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

Interim CEO: John Elbon

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 December, 2026

Status: To Be Determined

Mission:

First flight of the Dream Chaser Spaceplane, on a free-flying mission in Low Earth Orbit.

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, 2027

Status: To Be Determined

Mission:

Second flight of the Dream Chaser Spaceplane. It may dock to the ISS depending on results from Flight 1.

Low Earth Orbit

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Flight Record

No spaceflights found for .

Recent Launches

Falcon 9

Success

1 day, 10 hours ago

Starlink Group 10-48

Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.

Falcon 9

Success

2 days, 8 hours ago

Starlink Group 17-31

Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.

Long March 2D

Success

3 days ago

Shiyan 30 03-04

Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1) - Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

A pair of Chinese satellites reported to be for "Earth observation technological testing and validation" purposes. Actual usage not known.

Long March 8A

Success

3 days, 3 hours ago

SatNet LEO Group 20

Commercial LC-1 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

A batch of 9 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Chinese state owned SatNet constellation operated by the China Satellite Network Group.…

Firefly Alpha

Success

3 days, 22 hours ago

Stairway to Seven

Space Launch Complex 2W - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Firefly Alpha's Flight 7 is a test flight and return-To-Flight for the launch vehicle after its April 2025 launch failure. It will test and validate …