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List of Vulcan launches

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This is a list of launches made by the Vulcan Centaur rocket since its maiden launch on 8 January 2024.

Notable missions

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Peregrine Mission One

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Launch of the Peregrine on Vulcan Centaur's first flight
Main article: Peregrine Mission One

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

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Launch outcomes

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2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
  •   Failure
  •   Partial failure
  •   Success
  •   Planned

Launch sites

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2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
  •   Cape Canaveral SLC‑41
  •   Vandenberg SLC‑3E

Rocket configurations

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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
  •   Vulcan Centaur VC0
  •   Vulcan Centaur VC2S
  •   Vulcan Centaur VC4
  •   Vulcan Centaur VC6
  •   Vulcan Centaur TBD

Launch history

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2024

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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 Cape Canaveral, 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 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.[4]
2 4 October 2024
11:25 		Vulcan Centaur VC2S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Mass simulator 1,500 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.[5][6] 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 a perfect orbital insertion,[7][8] with the Space Force praising the launch and "the robustness of the total Vulcan system".[9]

Future launches

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Future launches are listed chronologically when firm plans are in place. The order of the later launches is much less certain.[10] Launches are expected to take place "no earlier than" (NET) the listed date.

2025

[edit]
Date / time (UTC)[10] Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
Q1 2025 Vulcan Centaur VC4S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-106 (NTS-3) GSO U.S. Space Force
USSF-106 mission.[11] Maiden flight of Vulcan Centaur VC4S Configuration.[12][13] First NSSL mission for Vulcan Centaur.[14] It will launch Navigation Technology Satellite 3 (NTS-3), an experimental spacecraft to test technologies for next-generation GPS satellites.
Q1 2025 Vulcan Centaur VC4S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-87 (GSSAP 7 & 8) GSO U.S. Space Force
USSF-87 mission.[15] It will launch two identical Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness satellites, GSSAP-7 and 8, directly to a geosynchronous orbit.[16]
Q1 2025 Vulcan Centaur VC2S[17] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 GPS III SV07[18] MEO U.S. Space Force
First GPS mission for Vulcan Centaur.
May 2025[19] Vulcan Centaur VC4L[13] 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[20] Vulcan Centaur VC2S Vandenberg, SLC‑3E SDA T1TR-B LEO SDA
Tranche 1 Tracking Layer B missile tracking satellites.
Q3 2025[20] Vulcan Centaur VC2S Vandenberg, SLC‑3E SDA T1TR-D LEO SDA
Tranche 1 Tracking Layer D missile tracking satellites.
December 2025[21] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[22] NG-OPIR-GEO 1 (USSF-57) GEO U.S. Space Force
Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellite.
Q4 2025[20] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E USSF-114 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
2025[23] Vulcan Centaur VC4S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-112 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
2025[20] Vulcan Centaur VC4 Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 NROL-64 TBA NRO
First NRO launch on Vulcan
2025[20] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E NROL-83 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload. First Vulcan Centaur launch from Vandenberg.
2025 [7] Vulcan Centaur VC2S[17] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 GPS III SV08[18] MEO U.S. Space Force
Eighth GPS Block III navigation satellite.
2025[7] Vulcan Centaur VC2S[17] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 GPS III SV09[18] MEO U.S. Space Force
Ninth GPS Block III navigation satellite. NSSL contract for FY2024.
2025[24] 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[23][25] 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

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Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
2026[21] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[22] Missile Track Custody 1 (USSF-95) MEO U.S. Space Force
First launch of Missile Track Custody satellites.
Q4 2026[21] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E SDA T2TL-B LEO SDA
Tranche 2 Transport Layer B missile tracking satellites.

TBD

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Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
NLT 2027[26][21] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[22] 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[21] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[22] NROL-56 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD[21] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E[22] NROL-73 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD[21] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E[22] NROL-100 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD[21] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[22] NROL-109 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
TBD[21] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[22] Silentbarker 2A, 2B, 2C (NROL-118) GEO U.S. Space Force (NRO)
Classified USSF & NRO partnered program.
TBD[21] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[22] STP-5 LEO U.S. Space Force
Two satellites for Department of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office[27]
TBD[28] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-16 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
TBD[28] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-23 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
TBD[28] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-43 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
TBD[29] Vulcan Centaur VC4L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
Vulcan Centaur VC4L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Dream Chaser LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
5 more launches on contract.
TBD[30] Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Project Kuiper x 45 LEO Kuiper Systems
38 Vulcan Centaur launches for Amazon's Project Kuiper.

See also

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References

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  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. ^ Berger, Eric (22 July 2024). "A mid-September test flight of Vulcan could permit a military launch this year". Ars Technica. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Vulcan Cert-2". United Launch Alliance. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Clark, Stephen (4 October 2024). "ULA's second Vulcan rocket lost part of its booster and kept going". Ars Technica. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  8. ^ Foust, Jeff (4 October 2024). "Vulcan competes second flight despite SRB anomaly". SpaceNews. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  9. ^ Clark, Stephen (22 October 2024). "Space Force is "assessing" impacts to Vulcan schedule". Ars Technica. Retrieved 23 October 2024. It was a successful Cert flight, and now we're knee deep in finalizing certification
  10. ^ a b Baylor, Michael. "Upcoming Launches: Vulcan". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  11. ^ Erwin, Sandra (9 April 2022). "Air Force space experiment will seek to demonstrate multi-orbit satellite navigation". SpaceNews. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  12. ^ @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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Erwin, Sandra (27 February 2023). "Air Force navigation satellite to launch on Vulcan's first national security mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  15. ^ "FY21 NSS Missions". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  16. ^ @GewoonLukas_ (24 June 2024). "The second one will be the USSF-87 mission, which will likely carry the 7th GSSAP satellite 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.
  17. ^ a b c @torybruno (16 May 2024). "Likely a 2 solid. When the Gov wants to go" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ a b c https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/2744342/space-systems-command-declares-three-gps-iii-space-vehicles-available-for-launch
  19. ^ Garcia, Mark (15 October 2024). "Crew-8 Awaits Splashdown; Expedition 72 Stays Focused on Science". NASA. Retrieved 16 October 2024. The first flight of Sierra Space's Dream Chaser to the International Space Station is now scheduled for no earlier than May 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d e Erwin, Sandra (8 June 2023). "Space Force assigns 12 national security missions to SpaceX and ULA". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Erwin, Sandra (31 October 2023). "Space Force assigns 21 national security missions to ULA and SpaceX". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ a b "Rocket Launch Manifest". Next Spaceflight. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  24. ^ Erwin, Sandra (9 April 2024). "Northrop Grumman developing military communications satellite for 2025 launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  25. ^ Erwin, Sandra (13 April 2023). "Boeing unveils WGS-11 design with new military payload". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  26. ^ Foust, Jeff (26 July 2023). "NASA and DARPA select Lockheed Martin to develop DRACO nuclear propulsion demo". SpaceNews. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Space Systems Command announces 21 mission assignments for National Security Space Launch Phase 2 Procurement" (PDF). 31 October 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Erwin, Sandra (30 May 2022). "Space Force identifies national security launches funded in 2022 and 2023". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  29. ^ Foust, Jeff (29 April 2022). "First Dream Chaser vehicle takes shape". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  30. ^ "Amazon Signs Contract with United Launch Alliance for 38 Project Kuiper Launches on Vulcan Centaur". ULA. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
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