Centaur Upper Stage Exhibit Honors Longstanding Contributions to Space Program

Centaur Upper Stage Exhibit Honors Longstanding Contributions to Space Program
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 06, 2024

An exhibit spotlighting the essential role of the Centaur upper stage in U.S. space operations was introduced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 18 at Los Angeles Air Force Base, the home of Space Systems Command (SSC). Designed to inspire and inform future Space Force Guardians, the exhibit features the Centaur III upper stage and its RL10 rocket engine, both of which have been instrumental in launching U.S. spacecraft since 1965. With its 289th successful mission on October 4, the Centaur program remains a key part of U.S. defense and exploration missions.

"The Centaur is deeply rooted in our history," stated Col. Michelle Idle, SSC deputy commander, to over 100 attendees at the ceremony. "It has put many of our capabilities up to orbit ... time and time again, the Centaur has delivered."

The exhibit, a collaborative effort among the Space Force, the Air Force, industry partners, and SSC's Heritage Center, emphasizes the Centaur's decades of service. "Centaur's not only been a long-living system that has continuously been updated with new technology, but it's also been a pretty darn reliable system that's operated with a high success rate ... it's over 92%," explained retired Maj. Gen. Thomas Taverney, Heritage Center foundation chairman. "The Centaur, the RL10, have been pretty much hand-in-glove with (what's now) Space Force since the '60s, getting critical satellites to orbit and still is there, helping us do our job."

This dedication is one of several SSC events marking its historical achievements in space. Established in 1954, SSC has evolved from managing missile and satellite development for the Air Force into today's $15.6 billion acquisition authority for the Department of Defense, a role cemented with its designation as a Space Force field command in 2021.

The displayed Centaur stage and RL10 engine, once used for research and testing, were donated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing and a successor to Convair, the company that first developed the Centaur in the 1960s.

"Centaur was the first cryogenic upper stage featuring hydrogen and liquid oxygen, so that we could fly longer, more intense and higher-energy missions," said Marcus Nichols, ULA senior manager. "We've evolved that over time to make it the most capable high-energy upper stage in the business, servicing national defense and powering missions to every planet in the solar system - and Pluto."

Developed with support from NASA and industry, the Centaur has served both military and civilian space missions. Its varied configurations include:

- Atlas-Centaur: Used on Atlas rockets from the 1960s-1980s, launched NASA's Surveyor, Pioneer, Viking, and Voyager missions.

- Titan IIIE-Centaur: Enhanced for Titan rockets in the 1970s, launching Helios, Viking, and Voyager.

- Titan IV-Centaur: Launched Cassini to Saturn in the 1990s-2000s with the Centaur-G and Centaur-T variants.

- Atlas IIAS-Centaur: Advanced for the 1990s, launched SOHO for NASA and ESA.

- Atlas III-Centaur: The new Centaur III upper stage used for Mars Odyssey.

- Atlas V-Centaur: Current version, launching missions like New Horizons, Juno, and OSIRIS-REx.

With its adaptability across multiple launch vehicles, Centaur has demonstrated remarkable endurance. The Centaur V, presently the upper stage for the Atlas V rockets, will also serve on the Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle, ensuring its legacy continues.

"The Centaur, also known as America's workhorse in space, serves as an engineering marvel, representing decades of innovation and achievement in aerospace technology," said Lt. Col. Sean Granier, 61st Civil Engineer and Logistics Squadron commander. "Space is not just the final frontier; it is a realm where our dreams take flight, and where teamwork, across disciplines, leads to ground-breaking discoveries."