ULA prepares first LEO-optimized Centaur V for Amazon constellation

ULA is preparing the first LEO-optimized Centaur V stage for Amazon's Leo satellite constellation. Amazon's Vertical Integration Facility (VIF-A) is open, and a Vulcan has been hoisted aboard the second Vulcan Launch Platform (VLP-A), which is solely dedicated to Amazon missions.

The LEO-optimized Centaur V is 35 ft long, is 1.8 m shorter and carries a third less propellant.

Centaur V uses cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, has twin RL10 engines and is attached to the Vulcan booster stage.

The first LEO-optimized Vulcan is assigned to Space Launch Complex (SLC)-41, and the recorded test result was a partial propellant load for the new Centaur V stage followed by a complete WDR.

The Amazon Vertical Integration Facility (VIF-A) is open for business. A Vulcan was hoisted aboard the second Vulcan Launch Platform (VLP-A), and that platform is solely dedicated to Amazon missions.

Amazon is partnering with ULA. The initial Amazon constellation is described as more than 3000 satellites in coordinated orbits around Earth, and ULA's payload is 195 of the 331 Amazon Leo production satellites.

Atlas V constellation launches have reached seven successful launches, and SLC-41 is the launch pad for both integration lanes.

These facts tie a new Centaur V configuration to Amazon's payload and identify Amazon-specific ULA facilities. They also quantify ULA's Amazon Leo production satellite payload and record seven successful Atlas V constellation launches.

Future Vulcan missions for Amazon list VIF-A and VLP-A as facilities.