Family-level launch record combining canonical variants, historical missions, public cadence forecasts, and available payload performance specs.
Historical missions are grouped by actual launch year. Forecast cadence uses family-level launch-rate rows.
| Year | Historical missions | Forecast launches |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 | 14 |
| 2027 | 0 | 19 |
| 2028 | 0 | 23 |
| 2029 | 0 | 25 |
| 2030 | 0 | 25 |
| 2031 | 0 | 25 |
| 2032 | 0 | 25 |
| 2033 | 0 | 25 |
| 2034 | 0 | 25 |
| 2035 | 0 | 25 |
| 2036 | 0 | 25 |
| 2037 | 0 | 25 |
| 2038 | 0 | 25 |
| 2039 | 0 | 25 |
| 2040 | 0 | 25 |
Payload capacity by variant and target orbit when structured capacity rows are available.
| Variant | Orbit | Capacity | Altitude | Inclination | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vulcan Centaur VC4L | LEO | 27,200 kg | Unknown | Unknown | Manual Vulcan VC4L fallback from nearby Vulcan Centaur performance profile. |
Vulcan Centaur VC4S | LEO | 27,200 kg | Unknown | Unknown | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User Guide |
Vulcan Centaur VC6S | LEO | 27,200 kg | 200 km |
Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.
| Variant | Stages | Missions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Vulcan Centaur VC2L | Not stated | 0 | Active |
Vulcan Centaur VC2S | Not stated | 2 | Active |
Vulcan Centaur VC4L | Not stated | 0 | Active |
Vulcan Centaur VC4S | Not stated | 2 | Active |
| 2041 | 0 | 25 |
2 launch locations represented.
| Year | Location | Launches | Confidence | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 10 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2026 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 4 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
| 2027 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 13 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2027 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 6 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
| 2028 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 15 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2028 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 8 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
| 2029 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 16 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2029 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 9 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
| 2030 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 16 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2030 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 9 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
| 2031 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 16 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2031 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 9 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
| 2032 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 16 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2032 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 9 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
| 2033 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 16 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2033 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 9 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
| 2034 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 16 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2034 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 9 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
| 2035 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 16 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2035 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 9 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
| 2036 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 16 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2036 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 9 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
| 2037 | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida) | 16 | 65% | Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida a... |
| 2037 | Space Launch Complex 3-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California) | 9 | 50% | Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabi... |
Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida and Vandenberg after ...
Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabilize.
Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida and Vandenberg after ...
Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabilize.
Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida and Vandenberg after ...
| 28.7 deg |
| ULA Vulcan public performance page |
Vulcan Centaur VC6L | LEO | 27,200 kg | 200 km | 28.7 deg | ULA Vulcan public performance page |
Vulcan Centaur VC6L | LEO | 25,600 kg | 407 km | 51.6 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User Guide October 2023 |
Vulcan Centaur VC6L | Polar | 23,900 kg | 200 km | 90 deg | ULA Vulcan public performance page |
Vulcan Centaur VC6S | Polar | 23,900 kg | 200 km | 90 deg | ULA Vulcan public performance page |
Vulcan Centaur VC6L | SSO | 22,300 kg | 555 km | 98.75 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User Guide October 2023 |
Vulcan Centaur VC2L | LEO | 19,000 kg | 200 km | 28.7 deg | ULA Vulcan public performance page |
Vulcan Centaur VC4L | SSO | 18,500 kg | 555 km | 98.75 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User's Guide October 2023 |
Vulcan Centaur VC2S | LEO | 16,300 kg | 407 km | 51.6 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User's Guide |
Vulcan Centaur VC2L | LEO | 16,300 kg | 407 km | 51.6 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User Guide / public performance page |
Vulcan Centaur VC2L | Polar | 15,200 kg | 200 km | 90 deg | ULA Vulcan public performance page |
Vulcan Centaur VC6L | GTO | 14,500 kg | Unknown | 27 deg | ULA Vulcan public performance page |
Vulcan Centaur VC2S | SSO | 14,400 kg | 555 km | 98.75 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User's Guide |
Vulcan Centaur VC6S | GTO | 14,400 kg | Unknown | 27 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User Guide October 2023 |
Vulcan Centaur VC6S | GTO | 12,000 kg | Unknown | 19.2 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User Guide October 2023 |
Vulcan Centaur VC4S | GTO | 11,600 kg | Unknown | 27 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User's Guide |
Vulcan Centaur VC6L | TLI | 11,500 kg | Unknown | Unknown | ULA Vulcan public performance page |
Vulcan Centaur VC6S | TLI | 11,300 kg | Unknown | Unknown | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User Guide October 2023 |
Vulcan Centaur VC6S | HEO | 10,600 kg | Unknown | 63.4 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User Guide October 2023 |
Vulcan Centaur VC4S | GTO | 9,500 kg | Unknown | 19.2 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User's Guide |
Vulcan Centaur VC4L | GTO | 9,500 kg | Unknown | Unknown | Manual Vulcan VC4L fallback from nearby Vulcan Centaur performance profile. |
Vulcan Centaur VC4S | TLI | 9,100 kg | Unknown | Unknown | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User's Guide |
Vulcan Centaur VC4S | HEO | 8,900 kg | Unknown | 63.4 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User's Guide |
Vulcan Centaur VC2L | GTO | 8,400 kg | Unknown | 27 deg | ULA Vulcan public performance page |
Vulcan Centaur VC2S | GTO | 8,300 kg | Unknown | 27 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User's Guide |
Vulcan Centaur VC6L | MEO | 8,100 kg | 20,368 km | 55 deg | ULA Vulcan public performance page |
Vulcan Centaur VC6S | MEO | 7,900 kg | 20,368 km | 55 deg | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User Guide October 2023 |
Vulcan Centaur VC6S | escape | 7,600 kg | Unknown | Unknown | ULA Vulcan Launch Systems User Guide October 2023 |
Vulcan Centaur VC2S |
| Jan 8, 2024 |
Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.
| Mission | Variant | Announced |
|---|---|---|
No forecasted missionsNo upcoming announced mission rows are linked to this vehicle family. | ||
Vulcan Centaur VC6L | Not stated | 0 | Active |
Vulcan Centaur VC6S | Not stated | 0 | Active |
Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabilize.
Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida and Vandenberg after ...
Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabilize.
Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida and Vandenberg after ...
Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabilize.
Base assumes ULA reaches its stated 18-22 total annual company cadence in 2026 only partially on Vulcan, then stabilizes around 25 Vulcan/year across Florida and Vandenberg after ...
Vandenberg supports NSSL/polar missions. Base ramps from a small 2026 count to a mature 9/year as pad, upper-stage, SRB, and national-security processing stabilize.
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan VC2S rocket will launch the Cert-1 certification mission from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan VC2S rocket is planned to launch the Cert-1 certification mission from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
Aerojet Rocketdyne has a 116-engine order from United Launch Alliance to support Vulcan launches for the 3,236-satellite Kuiper constellation.
Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Redmond, Washington facility is gearing up to produce 900 MR-107 attitude-control thrusters for the Centaur V, enough for more than 70 Vulcan missions.
The mission designated Cert-1 is Vulcan’s first launch and the first of two certification flights ULA must perform to gain U.S. Space Force approval to launch national security payloads.
United Launch Alliance rolled out its first Vulcan Centaur rocket to Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on 2024-01-05.
Vulcan’s debut mission will send Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander to the Moon using the Centaur V powered by twin RL10C-1-1A engines.
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan VC2S rocket is planned to lift off on 2024-01-08 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida with a launch window opening at 2:18 a.m. EST.
Aerojet Rocketdyne received a 116-engine order from United Launch Alliance to support Vulcan launches for Amazon’s 3,236-satellite Kuiper constellation.
United Launch Alliance completed the launch readiness review for the inaugural flight of its Vulcan Centaur rocket, mission Cert-1, on 2024-01-04.
United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket is scheduled to make its first flight on 2024-01-08 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
Aerojet Rocketdyne is preparing to produce 900 MR-107 attitude control thrusters in Redmond, Washington for the Centaur V, which is enough for more than 70 Vulcan missions.
One goal of Vulcan's certification flight is to test the new Centaur V upper stage.
United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket is scheduled to launch Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander from Cape Canaveral on January 8, 2024.
A United Launch Alliance Vulcan VC2S rocket will launch the Cert-1 certification mission from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander completed all integration milestones and was mated with United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket payload adapter on 2023-11-16.
A United Launch Alliance Vulcan VC2S rocket will launch the Certification-1 (Cert-1) mission from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
About 40 minutes after separation from ULA’s Vulcan rocket, Peregrine’s propulsion system will activate and begin receiving commands from Astrobotic’s Mission Control Center.
About 40 minutes after separation from ULA’s Vulcan rocket, Peregrine’s propulsion system will activate and begin receiving commands from Astrobotic’s Mission Control Center.
Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander completed all its pre-launch integration activities, including fueling and mating with the payload adapter for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket, by 2023-12-19.