Vulcan VC4L

Active

United Launch Alliance (ULA)

None

Description

Vulcan Centaur is a two-stage-to-orbit, heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by United Launch Alliance (ULA) since 2014. It is principally designed to meet launch demands for the U.S. government's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program for use by the United States Space Force and U.S. intelligence agencies for national security satellite launches. It will replace both of ULA's existing launchers (Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy) in this role, as these launchers are retiring.

Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    67.4 m
  • Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Launch Mass
    770.0 T
  • Thrust
    13706.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Vulcan VC4L
  • Family
  • Variant
    VC4L
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Vulcan VC4L
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    24600.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    11700.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
    4900.0 kg
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    20000.0 kg

United Launch Alliance

Commercial
CEO: Tory Bruno
ULA 2006

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.

Upcoming Spaceflights


Vulcan VC4L | Dream Chaser CRS 2 Flight 1

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
TBD September, 2025
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:

First flight of the Dream Chaser Spaceplane to the ISS.

Low Earth Orbit
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Vulcan VC4L | Dream Chaser CRS 2 Flight 2

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
TBD December, 2025
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:

Second flight of the Dream Chaser Spaceplane to the ISS.

Low Earth Orbit
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Long March 2D
Success
23 hours, 52 minutes ago
4 x SatNet test satellites
Launch Area 4 (SLS-2 / 603) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Officially described as "Satellite-Internet Technology Demonstration Satellites". Probable 4 test satellites for the Chinese state-owned LEO communic…


Falcon 9
Success
1 day, 2 hours ago
Fram2
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Fram2 is the world’s first astronaut mission to polar orbit. Named after the Norwegian polar research ship Fram, the Crew Dragon spacecraft will laun…


Falcon 9
Success
1 day, 7 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-80
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Spectrum
Failure
2 days, 17 hours ago
Maiden Flight
Orbital Launch Pad - Andøya Spaceport

First flight of the Isar Spectrum launch vehicle.


Long March 7A
Success
3 days, 11 hours ago
TJSW-16
201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Chinese classified satellite claimed to be for communication technology test purposes. Actual mission not known.