USSF-106

Last updated

USSF-106
USSF-106 Launch (9263444).jpg
USSF-106 Launch
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator USSF
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type ESPAStar
Manufacturer Northrop Grumman
Start of mission
Launch date13 August 2025 00:56 UTC
Rocket Vulcan Centaur VC4S (V-003)
Launch site Cape Canaveral, SLC-41
Contractor United Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Geosynchronous orbit
←  USSF-51
USSF-36  →

USSF-106 is an American National Security Space Launch Mission under the vision of United States Space Force. The launch is significant as it is the First National Security Mission on United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket. After reaching orbit two satellite are deployed both are based on Northrop Grumman's ESPAStar Satellite bus named NTS-3 and USA-554. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Contents

Overview

USSF had assigned USSF-106 Mission to ULA in 2020. At the time of assigning USSF-51 Mission is planned to be the first National Security Mission On Vulcan Centaur but after reassigning it to an Atlas V, USSF-106 became the first National Security Mission on Vulcan Centaur. [11]

The rocket launched on 13 August 2025, the launch was fully successful and after seven hours they provided conformation of successful launch. This mission completed ULA's longest Geosynchronous Mission. [12]

This mission also ended dependence of Russian RD-180 engine on US National Security Missions which is used on ULA's Atlas V rocket (Last mission to use RD-180 engine was the USSF-51 Mission) and is replaced with American made BE-4 engines, two of them is used on ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket and assure a new era in High Energy geosynchronous National Security launches from ULA. [13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "USSF-106 (NTS-3 & USA-554) | Vulcan VC4S | Next Spaceflight". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "NTS 3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "USA 554". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "Vulcan USSF-106". www.ulalaunch.com. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "USSF-106 (NTS-3 & USA-554) | Vulcan VC4S | Next Spaceflight". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Sharp, John (11 August 2025). "Launch Roundup: Vulcan and Ariane launch ahead of Starlink missions". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  7. ↑ Mike Wall (6 August 2025). "Vulcan Centaur rocket to launch 1st national security mission on Aug. 12". Space. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  8. ↑ Davenport, Justin (8 July 2025). "ULA set to ramp up Vulcan launches and national security missions with USSF-106". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Space Systems Command, United Launch Alliance launch USSF-106 mission aboard Vulcan rocket". United States Space Force. Archived from the original on 7 September 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  10. ↑ ULA. "Vulcan Rocket Ushers in New Era of National Security Space Launch". newsroom.ulalaunch.com. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "FY20 NSS Missions". U.S. Air Force. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Vulcan USSF-106". www.ulalaunch.com. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  13. ↑ Ferster, Warren (17 September 2014). "ULA To Invest in Blue Origin Engine as RD-180 Replacement". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 18 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
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