ULA Vulcan

Photo credit: United Launch Alliance

Early this morning, the maiden flight of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket successfully launched the Peregrine lunar lander for Astrobotic Technology.  The Vulcan Centaur is the second methane-powered rocket to reach orbit (the first was the Chinese Zhuque-2 made by LandSpace Technology, which reached orbit on July 12, 2023).  It replaces the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets previously flown by ULA.  The Vulcan Centaur is a two-stage-to-orbit heavy lift rocket that can lift up to 27,200 kg into low-Earth orbit (LEO) in its most powerful configuration with six solid rocket boosters attached to the first stage.  For comparison, the SpaceX Falcon 9 can lift 17,400 kg to LEO (in reusable form) or 22,800 kg to LEO (in expendable form), and the SpaceX Falcon Heavy can lift 30,000 kg to LEO (in reusable form) or 63,800 kg (in expendable form).

Development of the Vulcan Centaur started in 2014, using technologies from the ULA Atlas V and Delta IV rockets.  The first stage uses two BE-4 rocket engines developed by Blue Origin, and the Centaur V upper stage uses two RL10 rocket engines developed by Aerojet Rocketdyne.  The BE-4 first stage engines are liquid methane/liquid oxygen fueled and produce 550,000 lbs of force at sea level.  Work on the BE-4 began in 2011, and it was hoped to be ready for flight in 2017, but development took longer than expected (as is often the case in spaceflight - this IS rocket science, after all).  Blue Origin is also planning on using seven BE-4 engines to power the first stage of its massive New Glenn rocket, with first launch expected later in 2024.  The upper stage RL10 engines are liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen fueled and produce 24,000 lbs of force in vacuum.  The RL10 has quite the history, with development starting way back in the late 1950's.  Versions of the RL10 have been used on many different rockets, including Atlas, Saturn I, Titan IV, Delta IV, SLS, and now Vulcan Centaur.

Congratulations to ULA for successfully reaching orbit on their first launch attempt with the Vulcan Centaur.  It's great to see a new rocket enter service, and I am looking forward to seeing many more successful launches of the Vulcan Centaur.  For more information about the Vulcan Centaur, check out ULA's website at https://www.ulalaunch.com/rockets/vulcan-centaur

Until next time, keep looking to the sky and keep dreaming.

- Matt