Vulcan Centaur

Last updated

CH4
  1. ↑ 407 km (253 mi) circular orbit at 51.6° inclination
  2. ↑ 555 km (345 mi) circular orbit at 98.75° inclination
  3. ↑ 20,368 km (12,656 mi) circular orbit at 55° inclination
  4. ↑ 36,101 km (22,432 mi) circular orbit at 0° inclination
  5. ↑ 1,800 m/s delta-V with 185 km (115 mi) perigee and 35,786 km (22,236 mi) apogee orbit at 27° inclination
  6. ↑ 1,203 km (748 mi) perigee and 39,170 km (24,340 mi) apogee orbit at 63.4° inclination
  7. ↑ C3: -2 km2/sec2

These capabilities reflect NSSL requirements, plus room for growth. [4] [79]

A Vulcan Centaur with six solid rocket boosters can put 27,200 kilograms into low Earth orbit, nearly as much as the three-core Delta IV Heavy. [22]

Launch history

2024

Vulcan Centaur
Vulcan logo.svg
CLPS PM-1 Astrobotic-ULA Rollout for Launch (KSC-20240105-PH-JBS01 0067) (cropped).jpg
Vulcan Centaur in VC2S configuration ahead of its maiden flight
Function Heavy-lift launch vehicle
Manufacturer United Launch Alliance
Country of originUnited States
Cost per launchUS$110 million (starting) [1]
Size
HeightStandard: 61.6 m (202 ft)
Long: 67.3 m (221 ft) [2]
Diameter5.4 m (18 ft) [3]
Mass546,700 kg (1,205,300 lb)
Stages2
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Orbital inclination28.7°
Mass27,200 kg (60,000 lb) [4]
Total launches2
Success(es)2
First flight8 January 2024 [6]
Boosters – GEM-63XL
No. boosters0, 2, 4, or 6 [7]
Height21.98 m (865.3 in)
Diameter1.62 m (63.7 in)
Empty mass4,521 kg (9,966 lb)
Gross mass53,030 kg (116,920 lb)
Propellant mass47,853 kg (105,497 lb)
Maximum thrust2,061  kN (463,249  lbf) each
Total thrust12,364 kN (2,779,494 lbf) with 6
Specific impulse 280.3 s (2.749 km/s)
Burn time87.3 seconds [8]
Propellant AP / HTPB / Al
Flight No.Date / time (UTC)Rocket,
configuration		Launch sitePayloadPayload massOrbitCustomerLaunch
outcome
18 January 2024
07:18		Vulcan Centaur VC2S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Peregrine lander 1,283 kg (2,829 lb) TLI Astrobotic Technology Success [80]
Enterprise (space burial) Heliocentric Celestis
Maiden flight of Vulcan Centaur and Vulcan Centaur VC2S Configuration. Certification-1 mission, the first of two launches needed to certify the rocket for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. Payload from Celestis, demonstrated engine restart capability of the Centaur upper stage delivering multiple payloads to different orbits. The Peregrine payload failed in transit to the Moon, precluding a landing attempt, due to reasons unrelated to the launch vehicle. [81]
24 October 2024
11:25		Vulcan Centaur VC2S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Mass simulator1,500 kg (3,300 lb) Heliocentric United Launch Alliance Success
Certification-2 mission, the second of two launches needed to certify the rocket for NSSL missions. Originally scheduled to carry the first flight of Dream Chaser; however, due to schedule delays with Dream Chaser, ULA flew a mass simulator with experiments and demonstrations of future Centaur V technologies. [82] [83] Approximately 37 seconds into the launch, the nozzle on one of solid rocket boosters (SRB) fell off resulting in a shower of debris in the exhaust plume. Although the SRB continued to function for its full 90-second burn, the anomaly led to reduced, asymmetrical thrust. This caused the rocket to slightly tilt before the guidance system and main engines successfully corrected and extended their burn by roughly 20 seconds to compensate. Despite the anomaly, the rocket achieved nominal orbital insertion, [73] [74] with the Space Force praising the launch and "the robustness of the total Vulcan system". [75]

Future launches

Future launches are listed chronologically when firm plans are in place. The order of the later launches is much less certain. [84] Launches are expected to take place "no earlier than" (NET) the listed date.

2025

Date / time (UTC) [84] Rocket,
configuration		Launch sitePayloadOrbitCustomer
Q1 2025Vulcan Centaur VC4S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-106 (NTS-3) GSO U.S. Space Force
USSF-106 mission. [85] Maiden flight of Vulcan Centaur VC4S Configuration. [86] [87] First NSSL mission for Vulcan Centaur. [88] It will launch Navigation Technology Satellite 3 (NTS-3), an experimental spacecraft to test technologies for next-generation GPS satellites.
Q1 2025Vulcan Centaur VC4S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-87 (GSSAP 7 & 8) GSO U.S. Space Force
USSF-87 mission. [89] It will launch two identical Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness satellites, GSSAP-7 and 8, directly to a geosynchronous orbit. [90]
May 2025 [91] Vulcan Centaur VC4L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 SSC Demo-1 (Dream Chaser Tenacity) LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
First flight of Dream Chaser. Maiden flight of the Vulcan Centaur VC4L configuration.
Q3 2025 [92] Vulcan Centaur VC2S Vandenberg, SLC‑3E SDA T1TR-B LEO SDA
Tranche 1 Tracking Layer B missile tracking satellites.
Q3 2025 [92] Vulcan Centaur VC2S Vandenberg, SLC‑3E SDA T1TR-D LEO SDA
Tranche 1 Tracking Layer D missile tracking satellites.
December 2025 [93] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 [94] NG-OPIR-GEO 1 (USSF-57) GEO U.S. Space Force
Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellite.
Q4 2025 [92] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E USSF-114 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
2025 [95] Vulcan Centaur VC4S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-112 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
2025 [92] Vulcan Centaur VC4 Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 NROL-64 TBA NRO
First NRO launch on Vulcan
2025 [92] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E NROL-83 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload. First Vulcan Centaur launch from Vandenberg.
2025Vulcan Centaur VC2S [96] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 GPS III SV10 [97] MEO U.S. Space Force
First GPS mission for Vulcan Centaur.
2025 [73] Vulcan Centaur VC2S [96] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 GPS III SV08 [97] MEO U.S. Space Force
Eighth GPS Block III navigation satellite.
2025 [73] Vulcan Centaur VC2S [96] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 GPS III SV09 [97] MEO U.S. Space Force
Ninth GPS Block III navigation satellite. NSSL contract for FY2024.
2025 [98] Vulcan Centaur VC4 Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 PTS-P GEO U.S. Space Force
Protected Tactical Satcom prototype payload. The PTS payload will fly on dedicated Northrop Grumman built ESPAStar-HP satellite bus.
2025 [95] [99] Vulcan Centaur VC2L Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 WGS-11 GEO U.S. Space Force
Military communications satellite. Maiden flight of the Vulcan Centaur VC2L configuration.

2026

Date / time (UTC)Rocket,
configuration		Launch sitePayloadOrbitCustomer
2026 [93] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 [94] Missile Track Custody 1 (USSF-95) MEO U.S. Space Force
First launch of Missile Track Custody satellites.
Q4 2026 [93] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E SDA T2TL-B LEO SDA
Tranche 2 Transport Layer B missile tracking satellites.

TBD

Date / time (UTC)Rocket,
configuration		Launch sitePayloadOrbitCustomer
NLT 2027 [100] [93] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 [94] DRACO Demo (USSF-25) LEO U.S. Space Force
Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) is a DARPA program to demonstrate a working nuclear thermal rocket in space.
TBD [93] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 [94] NROL-56 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD [93] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E [94] NROL-73 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD [93] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E [94] NROL-100 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD [93] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 [94] NROL-109 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD [93] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 [94] Silentbarker 2A, 2B, 2C (NROL-118) GEO U.S. Space Force (NRO)
Classified USSF & NRO partnered program.
TBD [93] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 [94] STP-5 LEO U.S. Space Force
Two satellites for Department of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office [101]
TBD [102] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-16 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
TBD [102] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-23 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
TBD [102] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-43 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
TBD [103] Vulcan Centaur VC4L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
5 more launches on contract.
TBD [104] Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L [87] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
38 Vulcan Centaur launches for Amazon's Project Kuiper.

Potential upgrades

ULA plans to continually improve the Vulcan Centaur. The company plans to introduce its first upgrades in 2025, with subsequent improvements occurring roughly every two to three years. [1]

Since 2015, ULA has spoken of several technologies that would improve the Vulcan launch vehicle's capabilities. These include first-stage improvements to make the most expensive components potentially reusable and second-stage improvements to allow the rocket to operate for months in Earth-orbit cislunar space. [105]

Long-endurance upper stages

The ACES upper stage—fueled with liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) and powered by up to four rocket engines with the engine type yet to be selected—was a conceptual upgrade to Vulcan's upper stage at the time of the announcement in 2015. This stage could be upgraded to include Integrated Vehicle Fluids technology that would allow the upper stage to function in orbit for weeks instead of hours. The ACES upper stage was cancelled in September 2020, [36] [106] and ULA said the Vulcan second stage would now be the Centaur V upper stage: a larger, more powerful version of the Dual Engine Centaur upper stage used by the Atlas V N22. [22] [105] A senior executive at ULA said the Centaur V design was also heavily influenced by ACES. [22] [107]

However, ULA said in 2021 that it is working to add more value to upper stages by having them perform tasks such as operating as space tugs. CEO Tory Bruno says ULA is working on upper stages with hundreds of times the endurance of those currently in use. [107]

SMART reuse

A method of main engine reuse called Sensible Modular Autonomous Return Technology (SMART) is a proposed upgrade for Vulcan Centaur. In the concept, the booster engines, avionics, and thrust structure detach as a module from the propellant tanks after booster engine cutoff. The engine module then falls through the atmosphere protected by an inflatable heat shield. After parachute deployment, the engine section splashes down, using the heat shield as a raft. [108] Before 2022, ULA intended to catch the engine section using a helicopter. [108] ULA estimated this technology could reduce the cost of the first-stage propulsion by 90% and 65% of the total first-stage cost. [37] [108] Although SMART reuse was not initially funded for development, [105] from 2021 the higher launch cadence required to launch the Project Kuiper mega constellation provided support for the concept's business case. [109] Consequently, ULA has stated that it plans to begin testing the technology during its launches of the satellite internet constellation, with timing of the tests to be agreed upon with Amazon, the developer of Project Kuiper. [1]

Vulcan Heavy

In September 2020, ULA announced they were studying a "Vulcan Heavy" variant with three booster cores. Speculation about a new variant had been rampant for months after an image of a model of that version popped on social media. ULA CEO Tory Bruno later tweeted a clearer image of the model and said it was the subject of ongoing study. [22] [110]

See also

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References

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  2. 1 2 "Vulcan Centaur Cutaway Poster" (PDF). United Launch Alliance. November 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. ↑ Peller, Mark. "United Launch Alliance" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Vulcan". United Launch Alliance. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  5. ↑ Clark, Stephen (12 October 2015). "ULA selects launch pads for new Vulcan rocket". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 14 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Robinson-Smith, Will (21 December 2023). "ULA stacks Vulcan rocket for the first time ahead of Jan. 8 debut launch". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  7. 1 2 @ToryBruno (1 July 2019). "Vulcan is configurable with 0 to 6 SRBs. 2 fairing lengths, the longer, 70 ft fairing having a massive 11,000 cuft (317 cu-m) payload volume" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ↑ Propulsion Products Catalog (PDF). Northrop Grumman. p. 39.
  9. ↑ Jeff Bezos, Tim Dodd (15 August 2024). First Look Inside Blue Origin's New Glenn Factory w/ Jeff Bezos. Event occurs at 1:10:48.
  10. ↑ Jan. 8 LIVE Broadcast: Vulcan Cert-1. United Launch Alliance. Event occurs at 57:11. Retrieved 11 July 2024– via YouTube.
  11. ↑ "Vulcan Cert-1". United Launch Alliance . 8 January 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
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