List of Vulcan launches

This is a list of launches made by the Vulcan Centaur rocket, first launched January 8, 2024.

Notable missions

Peregrine Mission One

Launch of the Peregrine on Vulcan Centaur's first flight

Peregrine Mission One was a lunar lander built by Astrobotic Technology, selected as a part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. It was launched on the maiden flight of Vulcan Centaur on 8 January 2024, 07:18 UTC.[1] The Vulcan Centaur successfully placed Peregrine into trans-lunar injection, however, following a fuel leak with the spacecraft unrelated to the Vulcan Centaur, the lander failed in its attempt to land on the moon.[2]

Launch statistics

Launch outcomes

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
  •   Failure
  •   Partial failure
  •   Success
  •   Planned

Launch sites

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
  •   Cape Canaveral SLC-41
  •   Vandenberg SLC-3E

Rocket configurations

2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
  •   Vulcan Centaur VC0
  •   Vulcan Centaur VC2S
  •   Vulcan Centaur VC4
  •   Vulcan Centaur VC6
  •   Vulcan Centaur TBD

Launch history

2024

Flight No. Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Payload mass Orbit Customer Launch
outcome
1 8 January 2024,
07:18 		Vulcan Centaur VC2S CCSFS, SLC-41 Peregrine lander 1,283 kg (2,829 lb) TLI Astrobotic Technology Success[3]
Enterprise (space burial) Heliocentric Celestis
Maiden flight of Vulcan Centaur. Vulcan 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.[4]

Future launches

2024

Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
Early September[5] Vulcan Centaur VC2S[6] CCSFS, SLC-41 Mass Simulator TBA United Launch Alliance
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, but due to schedule delays with Dream Chaser, ULA will fly an inert payload, experiments, and demonstrations.[5]
December 2024[7] Vulcan Centaur VC4[8][9] CCSFS, SLC-41 USSF-106 / NTS-3[10] GEO U.S. Space Force
USSF-106 mission. First NSSL mission for Vulcan Centaur.[11]
December 2024[12] Vulcan Centaur VC4 CCSFS, SLC-41 USSF-87 (GSSAP 7 & 8)[13] GEO U.S. Space Force
USSF-87 Mission. It will launch two identical Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness satellites, GSSAP-7 and 8, directly to a geosynchronous orbit.

2025

Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
January 2025[14] Vulcan Centaur VC2S[15] CCSFS, SLC-41 GPS-III SV07 MEO U.S. Space Force
First GPS mission for Vulcan Centaur.
2025[5] Vulcan Centaur VC4L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 SNC Demo-1 (Dream Chaser Tenacity.1) LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
First flight of Dream Chaser. Originally scheduled to fly on Vulcan Certification-2 mission.
2025[16] Vulcan Centaur VC2[15] CCSFS, SLC-41 GPS-III SV08 MEO U.S. Space Force
Eighth GPS Block III navigation satellite.
2025[17] Vulcan Centaur VC2[15] CCSFS, SLC-41 GPS-III SV09 MEO U.S. Space Force
Ninth GPS Block III navigation satellite.
2025[16] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41 NROL-64 TBA NRO
First NRO launch on Vulcan
2025[16] Vulcan Centaur VSFB, SLC-3E NROL-83 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload. First Vulcan Centaur launch from Vandenberg
2025[16] Vulcan Centaur VSFB, SLC-3E SDA T1TR-B LEO SDA
Tranche 1 Tracking Layer B missile tracking satellites.
2025[16] Vulcan Centaur VSFB, SLC-3E SDA T1TR-D LEO SDA
Tranche 1 Tracking Layer D missile tracking satellites.
2025[14] Vulcan Centaur VC4 CCSFS, SLC-41 USSF-112 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
2025[16] Vulcan Centaur VSFB, SLC-3E USSF-114 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
2025[14][18] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41 WGS-11 GEO U.S. Space Force
Military communications satellite.

2027

Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
NLT 2027[19][17] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41[20] 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

Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
TBD[17] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41[20] NROL-56 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD[17] Vulcan Centaur VSFB, SLC-3E[20] NROL-73 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD[17] Vulcan Centaur VSFB, SLC-3E[20] NROL-100 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD[17] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41[20] NROL-109 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD[17] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41[20] Silentbarker 2A, 2B, 2C (NROL-118) GEO U.S. Space Force (NRO)
Classified USSF & NRO partnered program.
TBD[17] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41[20] STP-5 LEO U.S. Space Force
Two satellites for Department of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office[21]
TBD[17] Vulcan Centaur VSFB, SLC-3E SDA T2TL-B LEO SDA
Tranche 2 Transport Layer B missile tracking satellites.
TBD[22] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41 USSF-16 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
TBD[22] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41 USSF-23 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
TBD[22] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41 USSF-43 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
TBD[17] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41[20] NG-OPIR (USSF-57) GEO U.S. Space Force
Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellite.
TBD[17] Vulcan Centaur CCSFS, SLC-41[20] Missile Track Custody 1 (USSF-95) MEO U.S. Space Force
First launch of Missile Track Custody satellites.
TBD[23] Vulcan Centaur VC4L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
5 more launches on contract.
TBD[24] Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[9] CCSFS, SLC-41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
38 Vulcan Centaur launches for Amazon's Project Kuiper.

See also

  • Spaceflight portal

References

  1. ^ Bruno, Tory (10 December 2023). "#VulcanRocket WDR update". X. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  2. ^ "The first US Moon landing in more than 50 years has hit a major hurdle after a 'critical' fuel leak". ABC News (Australia). 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  3. ^ McCrea, Aaron (8 January 2024). "Vulcan successfully launches Peregrine lunar lander on inaugural flight". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  4. ^ "The first US Moon landing in more than 50 years has hit a major hurdle after a 'critical' fuel leak". ABC News (Australia). 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "ULA changes payloads for second Vulcan launch". SpaceNews. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  6. ^ @torybruno (15 June 2024). "2 solids" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Berger, Eric (10 January 2024). "After its impressive first flight, here's what's next for the Vulcan rocket". Ars Technica. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  8. ^ @GewoonLukas_ (24 June 2024). "The first one will be the USSF-106 mission. This launch will carry the NTS-3 satellite, along with another currently unidentified payload, directly to Geosynchronous orbit. It currently looks like Vulcan will be flying in the VC4 configuration for this mission" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as Krebs, Gunter (19 December 2023). "Vulcan". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  10. ^ Erwin, Sandra (9 April 2022). "Air Force space experiment will seek to demonstrate multi-orbit satellite navigation". SpaceNews. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  11. ^ Erwin, Sandra (27 February 2023). "Air Force navigation satellite to launch on Vulcan's first national security mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  12. ^ "FY21 NSS Missions". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  13. ^ @GewoonLukas_ (24 June 2024). "The second one will be the USSF-87 mission, which will likely carry the 4th pair of GSSAP satellites directly to Geosynchronous orbit. It currently looks like Vulcan will be flying in the VC2 configuration for this mission, although a VC4 has been previously reported" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ a b c "Rocket Launch Manifest". Next Spaceflight. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  15. ^ a b c @torybruno (16 May 2024). "Likely a 2 solid. When the Gov wants to go" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Erwin, Sandra (8 June 2023). "Space Force assigns 12 national security missions to SpaceX and ULA". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Erwin, Sandra (31 October 2023). "Space Force assigns 21 national security missions to ULA and SpaceX". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  18. ^ Erwin, Sandra (13 April 2023). "Boeing unveils WGS-11 design with new military payload". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  19. ^ Foust, Jeff (26 July 2023). "NASA and DARPA select Lockheed Martin to develop DRACO nuclear propulsion demo". SpaceNews. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i @thesheetztweetz (1 November 2023). "And, for those curious, here's the rundown of the 21 mission assignments:" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "Space Systems Command announces 21 mission assignments for National Security Space Launch Phase 2 Procurement" (PDF). 31 October 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  22. ^ a b c Erwin, Sandra (30 May 2022). "Space Force identifies national security launches funded in 2022 and 2023". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  23. ^ Foust, Jeff (29 April 2022). "First Dream Chaser vehicle takes shape". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  24. ^ "Amazon Signs Contract with United Launch Alliance for 38 Project Kuiper Launches on Vulcan Centaur". ULA. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Spaceflight lists and timelines
GeneralHuman spaceflight
General
Salyut
Mir
ISS
Tiangong
Shuttle
People
EVA
Solar System
explorationEarth-orbiting
satellitesVehiclesLaunches
by rocket typeLaunches by spaceportAgencies, companies
and facilitiesOther mission lists
and timelines