First Vulcan Leo Mission to Launch

ULA's optimized Vulcan heavy-lifter is delivering spacecraft into low Earth orbit for Amazon Leo. The advanced broadband satellites are designed to deliver fast, reliable internet to customers beyond the reach of existing networks. The initial Amazon constellation will include more than 3,000 satellites working together in coordinated orbits around Earth.

Launch Date: Friday, Nov. 13

GO Vulcan! GO Centaur! GO Amazon Leo!

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Mission Overview

A Vulcan VC6L rocket, configured with the LEO-optimized Centaur V, six side-mounted solid rocket boosters and a longer-length payload fairing, will launch 40 satellites into space for Amazon Leo. Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This is the first of 38 Vulcan rocket launches for Amazon to expand its satellite constellation following ULA's eight successful deployment missions using Atlas V.

Launch Vehicle

Payload Fairing

The spacecraft is encapsulated in a 17.7-ft- (5.4-m-) diameter payload fairing (PLF), a sandwich composite structure made with a vented aluminum-honeycomb core and graphite-epoxy face sheets. The bisector (two-piece shell) PLF encapsulates the spacecraft. The payload attach fitting (PAF) is a similar sandwich composite structure creating the mating interface from spacecraft to second stage and payload fairing. The PLF separates using a debris-free horizontal and vertical separation system with spring packs and frangible joint assembly. The payload fairing is the 70-ft (21.3-m) long configuration.

Centaur V

The LEO-optimized Centaur V second stage is 17.7 ft (5.4 m) in diameter and 35 ft (10.7 m) in length. Its propellant tanks are pressure-stabilized and constructed of corrosion-resistant stainless steel. Centaur is a cryogenic vehicle, fueled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, powered by two RL10C-1-1A engines, each producing 23,825 pounds (106 kilo-Newtons) of thrust. The cryogenic tanks are insulated with a combination of multilayer insulation (MLI) blankets, radiation shields and spray-on foam insulation (SOFI). A fault-tolerant avionics system is mounted on an aft equipment shelf. The payload attach fitting (PAF) provides structural and electrical interfaces with the spacecraft and is mounted to the Centaur V Launch Vehicle Forward Adapter (LVFA).

Booster

The booster is 17.7 ft (5.4 m) in diameter and 109.2 ft (33.3 m) in length. The booster’s tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of orthogrid aluminum barrels, spun-formed aluminum domes with a common bulkhead. The liquefied natural gas (LNG) / methane fueled booster will be powered by a pair of BE-4 engines, each producing 550,000 pounds (2,400 kN) of sea level thrust. Six graphite epoxy motor (GEM) 63XL solid rocket boosters (SRBs) generate the additional power required at liftoff, with each providing 459,600 lbs (2,044 kN) of thrust. The Centaur avionics system, provides guidance, flight control and vehicle sequencing functions during the booster and Centaur phases of flight.

Production

1. Magna, UT
    Solid Rocket Booster Fabrication at Northrop Grumman
2. Denver, CO
    ULA Headquarters & Design Center Engineering
3. Decatur, AL
    Booster Fabrication & Final Assembly,
    Centaur Tank Fabrication & Final Assembly 
4. Decatur, AL
    5.4-m Payload Fairing Fabrication at Beyond Gravity
5. Huntsville, AL
    BE-4 Engine Fabrication at Blue Origin 
6. West Palm Beach, FL
    RL10C-1-1A Engine Fabrication at Aerojet Rocketdyne  

 

 

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