ULA Vulcan Rocket Launch Cape Canaveral Boosts U.S. Space Force's Security Mission

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket has successfully embarked on its inaugural national security mission for the U.S. Space Force, lifting off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 8:56 p.m. EDT on August 12, 2025. This marks a significant milestone for ULA as it transitions from the Atlas V to the Vulcan Centaur, a powerful new addition to the national security space transportation fleet.

The mission, designated USSF-106, deployed two military satellites, including the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3), into geosynchronous orbit. NTS-3, developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory and constructed by L3Harris Technologies, aims to explore advancements in position, navigation, and timing (PNT) services. This experimental satellite is part of an ambitious effort to enhance the resilience and adaptability of military and potential civilian GPS systems amidst challenges like jamming and spoofing.

The Vulcan rocket, equipped with four solid-fuel strap-on boosters, delivered nearly three million pounds of thrust to power the climb into the sky. Its Centaur upper stage, powered by Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C engines, took charge following separation from the first stage. This configuration supports a direct inject to GEO capability, highlighting Vulcan's suitability for long-duration and complex orbit insertions necessary for security payloads.

USSF-106 heralds the end of the reliance on Russian RD-180 engines with the utilization of two American-built BE-4 engines from Blue Origin, mitigating previous geopolitical concerns and fulfilling congressional mandates to shift towards domestically-produced launch solutions. This mission represents a critical shift in how national space assets are deployed, ensuring the U.S. Space Force's assured access to orbit with domestically engineered vehicles.

The success of the NTS-3 is critical in testing advanced technologies like an electronically steerable antenna and reprogrammable architecture, aiming to offer high-power signals to targeted regions. This satellite is pioneering methods to withstand electronic warfare and continues the legacy of GPS innovation initiated decades ago with NTS-1 and NTS-2 satellites.

ULA's Vulcan Centaur joins SpaceX as a certified provider in the U.S. government's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, doubling the country's launch capacity for such missions. This certification and the successful launch denote enhanced resiliency and flexibility for the nation’s vital space-based systems.

Optimistically projecting future operations, ULA expects to launch several more missions from its restored Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Expanding capabilities on the East and West coasts demonstrates a strategic move to meet growing demands for national security launches, providing a pathway to a more robust and agile space access infrastructure.

Despite historical delays due to technical anomalies and certification challenges, ULA anticipates pacing up to achieve a twice-a-month launch cadence by year's end, establishing a momentum to propel 20 to 25 flights in the following year. This operational ramp-up reflects the organization's commitment to satisfying national security demand and ensuring consistent access to space.

In concert with ULA's extensive infrastructure investments, the Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle's successful initiation marks a transformative era for the company's undertaking of heavy-lift defense launches, challenging SpaceX's established market position and contributing to a diversified and competitive launch services ecosystem.