Centaur (rocket stage)
The Centaur is a family of rocket propelled upper stages that has been in use since 1962. It is currently produced by U.S. launch service provider United Launch Alliance, with one main active version and one version under development. The 3.05 m (10.0 ft) diameter Common Centaur/Centaur III flies as the upper stage of the Atlas V launch vehicle, and the 5.4 m (18 ft) diameter Centaur V has been developed as the upper stage of ULA's new Vulcan rocket. Centaur was the first rocket stage to use liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX) propellants, a high-energy combination that is ideal for upper stages but has significant handling difficulties.
A single-engine Centaur III being raised for mating to an Atlas V rocket | |
| Manufacturer | United Launch Alliance |
|---|---|
| Used on |
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| General characteristics | |
| Height | 12.68 m (499 in) |
| Diameter | 3.05 m (120 in) |
| Propellant mass | 20,830 kg (45,920 lb) |
| Empty mass | 2,247 kg (4,954 lb), single engine 2,462 kg (5,428 lb), dual engine |
| Centaur III | |
| Powered by | 1 or 2 RL10 |
| Maximum thrust | 99.2 kN (22,300 lbf), per engine |
| Specific impulse | 450.5 seconds (4.418 km/s) |
| Burn time | Variable |
| Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
| Associated stages | |
| Derivatives | Centaur V Advanced Cryogenic Evolved Stage |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Total launches | 271 as of January 2024 |
| First flight | May 9, 1962 |
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