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Launch vehicle · Space

Vulcan Centaur

ULA heavy-lift rocket with Blue Origin BE-4 engines, certified for National Security Space Launch missions.

by United Launch Alliance · First fielded 2024

FieldedLaunch vehicleSpaceMilestoneFeb 12, 2026
Vulcan Centaur lifting off at night on the USSF-87 mission, February 2026

Photo: U.S. Space Force photo by Gwendolyn Kurzen · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Space Force) · Resized and reencoded as WebP; no additional crop or retouching. Credit retained for factual editorial product coverage.

Milestones20242026
  1. First flightInaugural Cert-1 launch, reported
  2. MilestoneCertified for National Security Space Launch missions, confirmed
  3. MilestoneSolid rocket booster anomaly on USSF-87 launch, reported

United Launch Alliance's successor to Atlas V and Delta IV, using two BE-4 first-stage engines and solid rocket boosters. Space Systems Command certified it for National Security Space Launch missions in March 2025.

Timeline3

  1. First flightReported

    Inaugural Cert-1 launch

    The Cert-1 mission lifted off from Cape Canaveral carrying Astrobotic's Peregrine lander.

    SourcesSpace.com

  2. MilestoneConfirmed

    Certified for National Security Space Launch missions

    Space Systems Command announced the certification on 26 March 2025, after Vulcan's two 2024 certification flights.

    SourcesSpace Systems Command

  3. MilestoneReported

    Solid rocket booster anomaly on USSF-87 launch

    One of four solid rocket boosters had a problem during the fourth Vulcan flight; the rocket stayed on its planned trajectory.

    SourcesSpaceflight Now

Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Operators1

  • USUnited States
First fielded
2024

Sources3

  1. 1.
    NewsVulcan suffers solid rocket booster problem during USSF-87 launch

    Spaceflight Now · Feb 12, 2026 · Supports: System milestone

    “An anomalous plume is visible from one of the Vulcan’s solid rocket motors during the launch of the USSF-87 mission on Feb. 12, 2026.”
  2. 2.
    Government recordU. S. Space Force (USSF) Certifies United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Missions

    Space Systems Command · Mar 26, 2025 · Supports: System, System milestone

    “ULA is now eligible to launch NSSL missions as one of two certified providers.”
  3. 3.
    NewsULA's Vulcan rocket launches private US moon lander, 1st since Apollo, and human remains in debut flight

    Space.com · Jan 8, 2024 · Supports: System milestone

    “launched on its first-ever flight, called Cert-1, early this morning (Jan. 8), from”

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