The RL10 first fired in 1959 and still powers Vulcan’s Centaur V upper stage. Here is how its closed expander cycle works, how it evolved from 15,000 lbf to a 3D-printed copper-chamber version, why it’s so reliable, and who builds it now.
Tag: Vulcan Centaur
GEM 63XL: The Giant Solid Boosters Strapped to Vulcan 💥
Vulcan’s six strap-on GEM 63XL solid boosters are the biggest monolithic single-cast solids ever made, according to Northrop Grumman. Here is how they compare with the Atlas V’s GEM 63, what the numbers say, and what we know about the two nozzle anomalies.
BE-4 Deep Dive: Blue Origin’s Methane Engine That Powers Two Different Rockets 🔥
The BE-4 is the methane and oxygen engine that powers New Glenn and ULA’s Vulcan. Here is how oxygen-rich staged combustion works, what the thrust numbers really mean, why it ran years late, and what the May 2026 valve problem tells us.
Vulcan’s Booster Problem: What We Know on October 25, 2026 🔥
Vulcan has been grounded since a second solid rocket booster nozzle problem on February 12, 2026. Here is the timeline, what officials have actually said, what is still unknown on October 25, 2026, and what to watch next.
Vulcan Centaur Explained: ULA’s New Workhorse, Piece by Piece 🚀
Vulcan Centaur has flown four times and carries a huge backlog. Here is how its BE-4 engines, solid boosters and Centaur V upper stage fit together, how it compares with Atlas V, Delta IV Heavy, Falcon and New Glenn, and who is paying for it.