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Centaur Upper Stage

Subsystem
Admin Edit
Class: PropulsionSubclass: Propulsion UnitOrganization: United Launch Alliance (ULA)
Specifications
Verified technical details with source attribution
SpecificationValueSources
Thrust N100,530 N per engine (22,600 lbf)
Starliner OFT (Atlas V) - 20-22 Dec 2019 - LAUNCH and LANDING - UPDATES
PropellantCryogenic (liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen)
NASA awards contracts for lunar technologies and ice prospecting payload
Additional Information
Extra fields from the product other_info JSON column.

Other Info

Decatur Facility

Value

ULA manufacturing facility in Decatur, Alabama

Sources

8fe903ab 81f8 4f0f 812e 9acb1eae64b49f731d82 E33e 4e10 8f00 D14199c32930

Conflicts

None

Corroboration Count

2

Qualification Testing

Value

Centaur stages undergo qualification testing including anomaly investigation from March 2023 test at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

Sources

24eb63a7 Bd3b 4b97 9129 686656f8540a8fe903ab 81f8 4f0f 812e 9acb1eae64b4

Conflicts

None

Corroboration Count

2
Synthesis Evidence
All fact sentences used in this product synthesis.

“As of December 17, 2019, ULA published that the Centaur stage for the Atlas V Starliner configuration was powered by dual Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10A-4-2 engines, each producing 22,600 pounds of thrust.”

Starliner OFT (Atlas V) - 20-22 Dec 2019 - LAUNCH and LANDING - UPDATESFeb 3, 2026e1167a45-934a-41c9-a131-a823591fd5c4

“United Launch Alliance received an $86,200,000 award to demonstrate a smart propulsion cryogenic system using the Centaur upper stage of its Vulcan rocket, including tank-to-tank propellant transfer and multi-week cryogenic storage.”

NASA awards contracts for lunar technologies and ice prospecting payloadOct 17, 2020e3fa3ef9-4e40-4814-9b5e-bff9edd25986
Mention Sources
All source documents that mention this product.
First Vulcan launch further delayed for Centaur modifications2 mentions

Jun 24, 2023

Starliner OFT (Atlas V) - 20-22 Dec 2019 - LAUNCH and LANDING - UPDATES1 mention

Feb 3, 2026

ULA factory tour with Tory Bruno1 mention

Feb 3, 2026

ULA’s Atlas V Arrives @ Canaveral To Launch The Lockheed Martin-Built SBIRS GEO-5 Satellite For The USSF1 mention

Apr 1, 2021

NASA awards contracts for lunar technologies and ice prospecting payload1 mention

Oct 17, 2020

Entity Mentions
All verified mentions of this entity in source documents

United Launch Alliance has several Centaur stages at its Decatur factory, and one of those stages will be used to complete the qualification testing interrupted by the March incident.

Mentioned as: CentaurSourceJun 24, 2023

The Atlas V booster stage and Centaur upper stage departed the ULA manufacturing facility in Decatur, Alabama on 2021-03-23 aboard ULA’s rocket transportation vessel.

Mentioned as: CentaurSourceApr 1, 2021

United Launch Alliance uses large forms to fabricate stainless steel Centaur tanks.

Mentioned as: CentaurSourceFeb 3, 2026

As of December 17, 2019, ULA published that the Centaur stage for the Atlas V Starliner configuration was powered by dual Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10A-4-2 engines, each producing 22,600 pounds of thrust.

Mentioned as: CentaurSourceFeb 3, 2026

United Launch Alliance received an $86,200,000 award to demonstrate a smart propulsion cryogenic system using the Centaur upper stage of its Vulcan rocket, including tank-to-tank propellant transfer and multi-week cryogenic storage.

Mentioned as: CentaurSourceOct 17, 2020

United Launch Alliance completed an investigation into an anomaly during a 2023-03-29 test of a Centaur at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

Mentioned as: CentaurSourceJun 24, 2023