Vulcan rocket: launch schedule, specs and record
Why it matters
Vulcan is United Launch Alliance's replacement for Atlas V and Delta IV. It flies from Cape Canaveral SLC-41 and uses two BE-4 engines from Blue Origin on the first stage, with optional solid boosters strapped on the side. A lot of its manifest is national security and Amazon Leo (formerly Kuiper) work, so expect dates to move around as payloads get ready. Vulcan is returning to flight in November 2026 after a booster nozzle grounding; see the FAQ below.
Vulcan return to flight: FAQ
Why was Vulcan grounded?
Nozzles failed on Northrop Grumman GEM 63XL solid boosters on two flights: Vulcan's second flight in October 2024 and USSF-87 on February 12, 2026, when one of four boosters lost its nozzle in under 30 seconds. Both times the core stage and Centaur V made up the thrust and the payloads reached their planned orbits. A ULA, Northrop Grumman and Space Force team investigated, and Vulcan has not flown for about nine months (Spaceflight Now, SpaceNews).
When will Vulcan launch again?
No earlier than Friday, November 13, 2026, from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral, on the Amazon Leo LV-01 mission. The date still needs range approval and the launch time has not been announced. The Amazon Leo LV-01 launch page has the live countdown.
What is the Amazon Leo LV-01 (Vulcan Leo 1) mission?
It carries 40 Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) broadband satellites. It is the first of the 38 Vulcan launches Amazon has booked and Vulcan's fifth flight overall. The satellites deploy from the Centaur upper stage over about 30 minutes (Spaceflight Now, Amazon).
What is new on this flight (VC6L)?
It is the first Vulcan with six GEM 63XL boosters, the VC6L configuration. It is also the first flight of the improved nozzle design and of a Centaur V optimized for low Earth orbit, and it uses the long fairing. ULA says more nozzle testing and analysis will continue alongside the mission (Spaceflight Now, Ars Technica).
Sources: Spaceflight Now, Oct 28, 2026, SpaceNews, Ars Technica, ULA.
Live countdown: Amazon Leo LV-01. See also the Florida launch schedule.
The Vulcan has 15 launches in T-ZERO’s current data: 15 upcoming (1 with a confirmed date) and 0 recent. The next dated launch is Vulcan VC6L | Amazon Leo (LV-01), Nov 13, 2026, 11:54 AM CST.
Launched by: United Launch Alliance.
Vulcan has flown 4 times since January 2024 (all variants); every Vulcan launch in the current data window is still ahead. The dated launch in the data is on Nov 13, 2026. Flown by United Launch Alliance (15). Common mission types: Government/Top Secret (13) and Communications (1). Common target orbits: Polar Orbit (3) and Low Earth Orbit (2). Pads used: Space Launch Complex 41 (8) and Space Launch Complex 3E (7). Counts cover roughly the last two months plus everything scheduled ahead, not the rocket’s full history.
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About the Vulcan
The Vulcan is a two-stage rocket built by United Launch Alliance. Launch Library 2 counts 4 launches since its first flight on January 8, 2024, 4 successful.
Vulcan
More about the Vulcan: Official site · Grokipedia
Vulcan specifications
- Family
- Vulcan
- Variant
- Vulcan
- Manufacturer
- United Launch Alliance
- Stages
- 2
- Diameter
- 5.4 m (17.7 ft)
- Reusable
- No
- Status
- Active
- First flight
- January 8, 2024
Vulcan launch record (all time)
- Total launches
- 4
- Successful
- 4
- Failed
- 0
- Success rate
- 100% (successes out of successes + failures)
- Pending (scheduled in LL2)
- 24
How the Vulcan compares
Other Vulcan-family rockets on T-ZERO: Vulcan VC4L, Vulcan VC6L.
Where the Vulcan launches from
- Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA: 8 upcoming · pads: Space Launch Complex 41 (8) · Where to watch launches here
- Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA: 7 upcoming · pads: Space Launch Complex 3E (7) · Where to watch launches here
Counts are launches in T-ZERO’s current data (upcoming plus roughly the last two months).
Specifications, description and all-time totals: Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs). Retrieved Nov 4, 2026. Imperial units are converted from LL2’s metric values. Upcoming and recent lists come from T-ZERO’s own launch data.
Upcoming launches (15)
Vulcan VC6L | Amazon Leo (LV-01)
GoNov 13, 2026, 11:54 AM CSTVulcan VC6L · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAVulcan | USSF-23
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAVulcan | USSF-114
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAVulcan | NROL-56
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAVulcan | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer B
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAVulcan | SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer B
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAVulcan | NROL-109
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAVulcan | NROL-73
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAVulcan | NROL-100
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAVulcan VC4L | Dream Chaser CRS 2 Flight 1
TBDQ4 2026 (date TBD)Vulcan VC4L · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAVulcan | NROL-64
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAVulcan | NROL-83
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAVulcan | USSF-16
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAVulcan | SILENTBARKER 2/NROL-118
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAVulcan | SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer E
TBD2026 (date TBD)Vulcan · United Launch Alliance · Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Recent launches (0)
No recent launches in the data.