Vulcan Centaur
OperationalULA · United States · First flight 2024
ULA's next-generation launch vehicle replacing both Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy. Uses two Blue Origin BE-4 methane-fueled engines on the first stage, up to six Northrop Grumman GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters, and the Centaur V upper stage with two RL10C engines. Two flights have experienced GEM 63XL SRB anomalies while still reaching their intended orbits: the Cert-2 mission (October 2024) and USSF-87 (February 12, 2026), after which the Space Force paused Vulcan national-security launches pending the SRB investigation. As of October 9, 2026, Vulcan had not flown again since USSF-87.
Launch price
Not published
Payload to LEO
27,200 kg
14,500 kg to GTO
Career record
100%
4/4 successful · as of 2026-10-09
Next launch
Oct 29, 2026
Amazon Leo (LV-01)
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Launch activity, live
From SpaceNexus's launch tracker (tracked since Aug 13, 2025); outcomes recorded as each flight lands. Career totals above are the vehicle's full history.
Last 90 days
0
launches flown
Tracked flights
2
2 success · 0 partial · 0 failed
Tracked success rate
100%
full successes / attempts; partial failures are not successes
On the manifest
8
upcoming launches
Upcoming
Specifications
| Height | 61.6 m |
| Diameter | 5.4 m |
| Stages | 2 |
| Engines | 2x BE-4 + 0/2/4/6x GEM 63XL SRBs + 2x RL10C |
| Propellant | CH4 / LOX (booster) + LH2 / LOX (upper) |
| Fairing diameter | 5.4 m |
| Payload to LEO | 27,200 kg |
| Payload to GTO | 14,500 kg |
| Payload to TLI | 11,500 kg |
| Reusable | No |
| First flight | 2024-01-08 |
| Last flight | Active |
| Variants seen on the manifest | Vulcan, Vulcan VC2S, Vulcan VC4L, Vulcan VC4S, Vulcan VC6L |
Where it launches from
Frequently asked
How much does a Vulcan Centaur launch cost?
ULA has not published a list price for Vulcan Centaur.
When is the next Vulcan Centaur launch?
The next tracked Vulcan Centaur launch is Amazon Leo (LV-01), Oct 29, 2026 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA. Dates move; Mission Control carries the live countdown.
How reliable is Vulcan Centaur?
Vulcan Centaur has flown 4 times as of 2026-10-09, with 4 successes, 0 failures and 0 partial failures: a 100% success rate, with 4 consecutive successes at last count.
How much can Vulcan Centaur carry?
27,200 kg to low Earth orbit, 14,500 kg to geostationary transfer orbit, 11,500 kg to trans-lunar injection.
Public commitments
On the Promise Ledger: 1 entry: 1 revised. Exact words, primary sources, deadlines and outcomes.
What the statuses mean
- Revised:
- the date or quantity was moved before it came due.
The whole Promise Ledger · same rules for everyone, how entries are scored