NASA has selected Centaur 5 from United Launch Alliance to power two crewed Artemis program missions planned for 2028.
WASHINGTON — NASA has selected United Launch Alliance’s Centaur 5 as the upper stage for its Space Launch System rocket for two crewed missions planned for 2028.
Centaur 5 was developed as the upper stage for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, which has flown four times since its debut in January 2024.
The decision is part of a broader shake-up of NASA’s Artemis program announced last week by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. The changes cancel the previously planned next-generation Exploration Upper Stage and push the first crewed moon landing from Artemis III to Artemis IV.
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NASA said it skipped a competitive bidding process because United Launch Alliance was the only contractor capable of delivering a compatible upper stage on the required timeline.
NASA originally planned to launch the first three Artemis missions using United Launch Alliance’s Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage before transitioning to the Exploration Upper Stage, built by Boeing, beginning with the Artemis IV mission. Under the new plan, NASA is moving away from those plans due to cost and schedule overruns.
NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel endorsed the revised approach, and Boeing — the contractor that builds the rocket’s core stage — expressed support for the changes.
The agency says standardizing the rocket design and flying more frequently will improve crew safety and reduce costs.