Engineering: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 January 8, 2024. All future launches are on hold pending an investigation.[1]

Notable missions

Peregrine Mission One

Launch of the Peregrine on Vulcan Centaur's first flight
Main article: Astronomy: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 January 8, 2024, at 07:18 UTC.[2] 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.[3]

Launch statistics

Launch outcomes

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Launch sites

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Rocket configurations

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Launch history

2024

Flight No. Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Payload mass Orbit Customer Launch
outcome
1 January 8, 2024
07:18 		Vulcan Centaur VC2S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 Peregrine lander 1,283 kg (2,829 lb) TLI Astrobotic Technology Success[4]
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.[5]
2 October 4, 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.[6][7] 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 loss of the nozzle led to reduced and asymmetrical thrust causing the rocket to momentarily tilt slightly. The guidance system adjusted the main engines and extended their burn by roughly 20 seconds to compensate for the loss with the rocket achieving nominal orbital insertion.[8][9] The nozzle failure was attributed to a manufacturing defect in an insulator located inside the nozzle.[10]

2025

Flight No. Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Payload mass Orbit Customer Launch
outcome
3 August 13, 2025
00:56 		Vulcan Centaur VC4S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-106 (NTS-3 & TBA) ~1,250 kg (2,760 lb) GSO U.S. Space Force Success
USSF-106 mission.[11] Maiden flight of Vulcan Centaur VC4S Configuration.[12][13] First NSSL mission for Vulcan Centaur.[14] Carried Navigation Technology Satellite 3 (NTS-3), an experimental spacecraft to test technologies for next-generation GPS satellites.

2026

Flight No. Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Payload mass Orbit Customer Launch
outcome
4 February 12, 2026
09:22 		Vulcan Centaur VC4S[15] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-87 Unknown GSO U.S. Space Force Success
Primary GSSAP 7 & 8 with multiple secondary payloads aboard Northrop Grumman’s ESPAStar platform.[16] Once again one GEM 63XL SRB malfunctioned with the rocket core stage compensating and allowing the rocket to achieve a nominal orbital insertion.[17] This second SRB malfunction has led to the US Space Force pausing NSSL launches on Vulcan until issues with its SRBs are resolved, potentially necessitating switching missions to other rockets.[18][19]

This was the first launch to use the ULA's Offline Vertical Integration (OVI) process and was ULA’s longest mission to date, lasting nearly 10 hours from liftoff to end of mission.[20]

Future launches

Future launches are listed chronologically when firm plans are in place. The order of the later launches is much less certain.[21] Launches are expected to take place "no earlier than" (NET) the listed date.

2026

Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
Summer 2026[22][23][24] Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 LeoSat × 40 (LV-01)[25] LEO Amazon (Amazon Leo)
First of 38 Vulcan Centaur launches for Amazon Leo, formerly Project Kuiper. First planned launch of Vulcan's most powerful configuration, VC6. First Vulcan to be integrated in VIF-A.[26]
2026[27] Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 LeoSat × 40 (LV-02) LEO Amazon (Amazon Leo)
Second of 38 Vulcan Centaur launches for Amazon Leo, formerly Project Kuiper.
2026[28] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[29] USSF-57 (NG-OPIR-GEO 1) GEO U.S. Space Force
Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellite.
2026[30][31] Vulcan Centaur VC2S Vandenberg, SLC‑3E SDA T1TR-B LEO SDA
Tranche 1 Tracking Layer B missile tracking satellites. First Vulcan launch from Vandenberg.
2026[32] Vulcan Centaur VC4 Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 NROL-64 TBA NRO
First NRO launch on Vulcan.[30] Possibly SunRISE 1-6 as secondary.
2026[30] Vulcan Centaur VC2S Vandenberg, SLC‑3E SDA T1TR-D LEO SDA
Tranche 1 Tracking Layer D missile tracking satellites.
2026[28] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E SDA T2TL-B LEO SDA
Tranche 2 Transport Layer B missile tracking satellites.
2026[33] 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.
2026[34] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-43 (LDPE-4 & TBA) TBA U.S. Space Force
Rapid On-orbit Space Technology Evaluation Ring (ROOSTER)-4[35]
2026[36][37][38] Vulcan Centaur VC2L Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 WGS-11 (PTS-P1) GEO U.S. Space Force
Military communications satellite. Maiden flight of the Vulcan Centaur VC2L configuration. Protected Tactical Satcom prototype payload. The PTS payload will fly on dedicated Northrop Grumman built ESPAStar-HP satellite bus.
2026[36] Vulcan Centaur VC4S Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-112 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
2026[34] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-23 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
2026[34] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-16 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
2026[30] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E USSF-114 TBA U.S. Space Force
Classified payload.
2026[30] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E NROL-83 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload. First announced Vulcan Centaur launch from Vandenberg.
2026[28] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[29] Silentbarker 2A, 2B, 2C (NROL-118) GEO U.S. Space Force (NRO)
Classified USSF & NRO partnered program.
2026[28] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[29] NROL-56 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
2026[28] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E[29] NROL-73 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
2026[28] Vulcan Centaur Vandenberg, SLC‑3E[29] NROL-100 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
2026[28] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[29] NROL-109 TBA NRO
Classified NRO payload.
2026[28] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[29] STP-5 LEO U.S. Space Force
Two satellites for Department of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office[39]
2026[28] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41[29] Missile Track Custody 1 (USSF-95) MEO U.S. Space Force
First launch of Missile Track Custody satellites.

2027

Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
Q2 2027[40] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 GPS IIIF-1[41] MEO U.S. Space Force
First GPS Block IIIF navigation satellite.
Q2 2027[40] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 GPS IIIF-2[41] MEO U.S. Space Force
Also designated USSF-49 under NSSL.
2027[42] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-50 (NG-OPIR-GEO 2) GEO U.S. Space Force
Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellite.
2027 Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 NROL-88[43] TBA NRO
Classified NRO Mission.

2028

Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
Q1 2028[40] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 GPS IIIF-3[41] MEO U.S. Space Force
Also designated USSF-15 under NSSL.
Q3 2028[40] Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 GPS IIIF-4[44] MEO U.S. Space Force
Also designated USSF-88 under NSSL.
Q3 2028 Vulcan Centaur Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 USSF-70 [45] U.S. Space Force
Swapped with Falcon 9 due to GPS IIII SV10 switch under National Security Space Launch.

TBD

Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
configuration 		Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
TBD[46] Vulcan Centaur VC4L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 SSC CRS-1 to CRS-5 LEO (ISS) NASA (CRS)
5 Dream Chaser launches on contract.
TBD[22] Vulcan Centaur VC6L[13] Cape Canaveral, SLC‑41 LeoSat × 45 (LV-03 to LV-38) LEO Amazon (Amazon Leo)
38 Vulcan Centaur launches ordered for Amazon Leo.

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02/space-force-pauses-national-security-launches-on-vulcan/
  2. ↑ Bruno, Tory (December 10, 2023). "#VulcanRocket WDR update". X. https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1733907494030688486. 
  3. ↑ "The first US Moon landing in more than 50 years has hit a major hurdle after a 'critical' fuel leak" (in en-AU). ABC News (Australia). January 9, 2024. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-09/us-moon-landing-critical-fuel-leak-peregrine-lander-timeline/103296902. 
  4. ↑ McCrea, Aaron (January 8, 2024). "Vulcan successfully launches Peregrine lunar lander on inaugural flight". NASASpaceFlight. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/01/vulcan-launch-peregrine-inaugural-flight/. 
  5. ↑ "The first US Moon landing in more than 50 years has hit a major hurdle after a 'critical' fuel leak" (in en-AU). ABC News (Australia). January 9, 2024. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-09/us-moon-landing-critical-fuel-leak-peregrine-lander-timeline/103296902. 
  6. ↑ Berger, Eric (July 22, 2024). "A mid-September test flight of Vulcan could permit a military launch this year". Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/07/a-mid-september-test-flight-of-vulcan-could-permit-a-military-launch-this-year/. 
  7. ↑ "Vulcan Cert-2". https://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/next-launch/vulcan-cert-2. 
  8. ↑ Clark, Stephen (October 4, 2024). "ULA's second Vulcan rocket lost part of its booster and kept going" (in en-US). Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/10/ulas-second-vulcan-rocket-lost-part-of-its-booster-and-kept-going/. 
  9. ↑ Foust, Jeff (October 4, 2024). "Vulcan competes second flight despite SRB anomaly". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/vulcan-competes-second-flight-despite-srb-anomaly/. 
  10. ↑ Foust, Jeff (March 12, 2025). "Manufacturing defect blamed for Vulcan solid rocket motor anomaly" (in en-US). https://spacenews.com/manufacturing-defect-blamed-for-vulcan-solid-rocket-motor-anomaly/. 
  11. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (April 9, 2022). "Air Force space experiment will seek to demonstrate multi-orbit satellite navigation". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/air-force-research-lab-experiment-to-assess-benefits-of-multi-orbit-satellite-navigation/. 
  12. ↑ @GewoonLukas_. "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.". https://twitter.com/GewoonLukas_/status/1805225022278992275.  Missing or empty |date= (help)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Krebs, Gunter (December 19, 2023). "Vulcan". Gunter's Space Page. https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/vulcan.htm. 
  14. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (February 27, 2023). "Air Force navigation satellite to launch on Vulcan's first national security mission". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/air-force-navigation-satellite-to-launch-on-vulcans-first-national-security-mission/. 
  15. ↑ "Vulcan to launch USSF-87". https://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/next-launch/vulcan-ussf-87. 
  16. ↑ Robinson-Smith, Will (February 11, 2026). "ULA to launch geosynchronous orbit surveillance satellite for the U.S. Space Force" (in en-US). https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/02/11/live-coverage-ula-to-launch-geosynchronous-orbit-surveillance-satellite-for-the-u-s-space-force/. 
  17. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (February 12, 2026). "ULA’s Vulcan launches Space Force mission; solid booster anomaly under investigation" (in en-US). SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/ulas-vulcan-launches-u-s-space-force-mission-to-geosynchronous-orbit/. 
  18. ↑ Dinner, Josh (2026-02-26). "US Space Force pauses national security launches on ULA Vulcan rocket due to booster glitch" (in en). https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/us-space-force-pauses-national-security-launches-on-ula-vulcan-rocket-due-to-booster-glitch. 
  19. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (March 25, 2026). "Space Force weighs launch alternatives as Vulcan faces potential months-long grounding". https://spacenews.com/space-force-weighs-launch-alternatives-as-vulcan-faces-potential-months-long-grounding/. 
  20. ↑ "USSF-87: Vulcan rocket to set new performance and endurance records". February 4, 2026. https://blog.ulalaunch.com/blog/ussf-87-vulcan-rocket-to-set-new-performance-and-endurance-records. 
  21. ↑ Baylor, Michael. "Upcoming Launches: Vulcan". https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/?search=vulcan. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Amazon Signs Contract with United Launch Alliance for 38 Project Kuiper Launches on Vulcan Centaur". ULA. April 5, 2022. https://www.ulalaunch.com/about/news/2022/04/05/amazon-signs-contract-with-united-launch-alliance-for-38-project-kuiper-launches-on-vulcan-centaur. 
  23. ↑ "SpaceX lines up 1st Space Coast launch of the year". January 3, 2026. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/spacex-lines-1st-space-coast-213400619.html. 
  24. ↑ "ULA Preps For First Amazon Launch On Vulcan Amid SRB Probe". 11 May 2026. https://aviationweek.com/space/satellites/ula-preps-first-amazon-launch-vulcan-amid-srb-probe. 
  25. ↑ https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/amazon-leo/amazon-leo-plans-double-launch-rate-20-missions
  26. ↑ United Launch Alliance [@ulalaunch] (14 May 2026). "A new chapter begins. The first Vulcan booster is vertical in the new Vertical Integration Facility (VIF-A) dedicated to @Amazonleo. This milestone enables testing of first use technologies and validates systems supporting Amazon’s LEO constellation.". https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/2054955013420593564. 
  27. ↑ https://twitter.com/Amazonleo/status/2013717959529689486
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 28.7 28.8 Erwin, Sandra (October 31, 2023). "Space Force assigns 21 national security missions to ULA and SpaceX". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/space-force-assigns-21-national-security-missions-to-ula-and-spacex/. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 29.7 @thesheetztweetz. "And, for those curious, here's the rundown of the 21 mission assignments". https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1719788490001449224.  Missing or empty |date= (help)
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 Erwin, Sandra (June 8, 2023). "Space Force assigns 12 national security missions to SpaceX and ULA". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/space-force-assigns-12-national-security-missions-to-spacex-and-ula/. 
  31. ↑ https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/02/06/ula-offloads-first-vulcan-rocket-at-vandenberg-at-it-preps-its-next-cape-launch/
  32. ↑ "ULA sets sights on ramping up launch cadence in 2026 – Spaceflight Now" (in en-US). https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/02/11/ula-sets-sights-on-ramping-up-launch-cadence-in-2026/. 
  33. ↑ Berger, Eric (September 25, 2025). "Sierra's Dream Chaser is starting to resemble a nightmare". Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/09/sierras-dream-chaser-is-starting-to-resemble-a-nightmare. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Erwin, Sandra (May 30, 2022). "Space Force identifies national security launches funded in 2022 and 2023". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/space-force-identifies-national-security-launches-funded-in-2022-and-2023/. 
  35. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (July 9, 2022). "Northrop Grumman gets $22 million Space Force contract to build small-satellite carrier bus". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/northrop-grumman-gets-22-million-space-force-contract-to-build-small-satellite-carrier-bus/. 
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Rocket Launch Manifest". Next Spaceflight. June 14, 2024. https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/?search=vulcan. 
  37. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (April 13, 2023). "Boeing unveils WGS-11 design with new military payload". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/boeing-unveils-wgs-11-design-with-new-military-payload/. 
  38. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (April 9, 2024). "Northrop Grumman developing military communications satellite for 2025 launch". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/northrop-grumman-developing-military-communications-satellite-for-2025-launch/. 
  39. ↑ "Space Systems Command announces 21 mission assignments for National Security Space Launch Phase 2 Procurement". October 31, 2023. https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Portals/3/Documents/PRESS%20RELEASES/Space%20Systems%20Command%20announces%2021%20mission%20assignments%20for%20National%20Security%20Space%20Launch%20Phase%202%20Procurement.pdf. 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 "Department of Defense Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget Estimates". USAF. June 2025. https://www.saffm.hq.af.mil/Portals/84/documents/FY26/FY26%20Space%20Force%20Research%20and%20Development%20Test%20and%20Evaluation.pdf. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 "Space Systems Command declares three GPS III space vehicles "Available for Launch"". August 24, 2021. https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/2744342/space-systems-command-declares-three-gps-iii-space-vehicles-available-for-launch. 
  42. ↑ "USSF-50 (NGG-2) | Vulcan Centaur | Next Spaceflight" (in en). https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7821/. 
  43. ↑ Hitchens, Theresa (October 3, 2025). "Space Force taps SpaceX, ULA for first set of critical launches beyond FY27" (in en-US). https://breakingdefense.com/2025/10/space-force-taps-spacex-ula-for-first-set-of-critical-launches-beyond-fy27/. 
  44. ↑ Hitchens, Theresa (October 3, 2025). "Space Force taps SpaceX, ULA for first set of critical launches beyond FY27" (in en-US). https://breakingdefense.com/2025/10/space-force-taps-spacex-ula-for-first-set-of-critical-launches-beyond-fy27/. 
  45. ↑ https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article/4439687/ussf-prioritizes-gps-iii-capability-delivery-timeline-executes-launch-provider
  46. ↑ Foust, Jeff (April 29, 2022). "First Dream Chaser vehicle takes shape". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/first-dream-chaser-vehicle-takes-shape/. 



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