United Launch AllianceVulcan VC4SSpace Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
USSF-106
Launched
August 13, 2025 · 00:56 UTC
Image: United Launch Alliance
Summary
USSF-106 launched on an United Launch Alliance Vulcan VC4S from Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on August 13, 2025 at 00:56 UTC. The launch window ran from 23:59 to 00:59 UTC. It was United Launch Alliance's 167th launch, 3rd this year and humanity's 7,027th orbital launch attempt. It was the 1st Vulcan VC4S flight. The payload was bound for Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO). 5 objects from this launch are catalogued, 3 of them payloads.
- Watch
- Rocket Launch: Vulcan USSF-106United Launch Alliance
- Watch live: Back-to back launches of Vulcan and Ariane 6 rocketsSpaceflight Now
- 🚀 ULA Vulcan VC4S Launches USSF-106NASASpaceflight
- Vehicle
- Vulcan VC4S · United Launch Alliance
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO)for USSF
- Milestone
- 1st Vulcan VC4S flightUnited Launch Alliance's 167th launch3rd this yearhumanity's 7,027th orbital launch attempt178th orbital launch attempt this year
Webcast
Flight preview
Simulate in Flight ClubFlight timeline
- T−4.9SIgnition
- T+1.1SLiftoff
- T+46.1SSupersonic
- T+1M0.1SMax-Q
- T+1M36.2SSRB Separation
- T+4M57.6SMECO
- T+5M3.7SStage 2 Separation
- T+5M13.6SSES-1
- T+5M21.7SFairing Separation
Catalogued objects
5 catalogued: 3 payloads, 1 rocket stage, 1 component; 5 still in orbit
- NTS 3 · NORAD 65160 · in orbit
- USA 554 · NORAD 65161 · in orbit
- USA 571 · NORAD 67480 · in orbit
Centaur V-003 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
USSF-106 is a mission for the United States Space Force. The launch will deploy various payloads directly into geosynchronous orbit, including the NTS-3 (Navigation Technology Satellite 3), a demonstration navigation satellite testing a new digital signal generator that can be reprogrammed on-orbit to broadcast new signals, improve performance by avoiding and defeating interference, and adding signatures for detecting spoofing attacks.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
117th launch from Space Launch Complex 41, 3rd this year · 1,045th from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Local pad time at liftoff: Aug 12, 8:56 PM EDT, in twilight
125 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
50 days after the previous launch from this pad
Updates
Launch success.
Show 9 earlier updates
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin · 8/13/2025 · source
New T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin · 8/12/2025 · source
Updated launch weather, 80% GO.
Cosmic_Penguin · 8/11/2025 · source
Refined launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin · 8/10/2025 · source
Updated launch weather, 75% GO.
Cosmic_Penguin · 8/9/2025 · source
Targeting August 12.
Cosmic_Penguin · 8/6/2025 · source
Delayed to NET August 11 UTC.
Cosmic_Penguin · 8/1/2025 · source
NET August 9 UTC, to be confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin · 7/29/2025 · source
NET August.
Cosmic_Penguin · 7/24/2025 · source
Questions
When did USSF-106 launch?
USSF-106 launched on August 13, 2025 at 00:56 UTC. The launch window ran from 23:59 to 00:59 UTC.
Where can I watch USSF-106?
Coverage: Rocket Launch: Vulcan USSF-106; Watch live: Back-to back launches of Vulcan and Ariane 6 rockets; 🚀 ULA Vulcan VC4S Launches USSF-106. Watch the replay
What rocket launched USSF-106?
Vulcan VC4S, flown by United Launch Alliance. Vulcan VC4S spec sheet
Where did USSF-106 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA. Liftoff was Aug 12, 8:56 PM EDT local time at the pad.
What orbit was USSF-106 going to?
Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO), a government/top secret mission.
How many satellites did USSF-106 launch?
3 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 3 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).