ULA set to ramp up Vulcan launches and national security missions with USSF-106

Date:
Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:19:49 +0000

Description:
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is starting launch processing for its long-awaited national security launch debut The post ULA set to ramp up
Vulcan launches and national security missions with USSF-106 appeared first
on NASASpaceFlight.com .

FULL STORY ======================================================================

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is starting launch processing for its long-awaited national security launch debut after investigating an issue that affected Vulcans second mission a mission required for certification to fly national security missions. ULA will also start flying other Vulcan configurations than the VC2S, which includes two solid rocket boosters (SRBs) and a standard fairing, that were used for the rockets first two flights.

A large part of a nozzle from one of the two GEM-63XL SRBs on the second Vulcan flight in October 2024 detached due to a manufacturing defect, forcing the rocket to heavily compensate during ascent. The mission reached orbit despite the anomaly, and ULA and Northrop Grumman isolated the root cause and have taken corrective actions to address the issue.



Although no launch date has yet been set, ULA recently started processing for the USSF-106 mission after the Vulcan received its certification to fly National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. Vulcan now joins SpaceXs Falcon family in launching NSSL payloads, beginning with USSF-106s two national security satellites bound for geosynchronous orbit.



USSF-106 will utilize the VC4S configuration of the Vulcan, featuring four GEM-63XL SRBs manufactured by Northrop Grumman in its facilities in Utah.
Each GEM-63XL produces 2,044 kN of thrust, while the core stage will use two Blue Origin BE-4 engines, each producing 2,400 kN of thrust at sea level. The BE-4s are made in a Blue Origin facility in Kent, Washington. See Also Vulcan Updates ULA Forum Section NSF Store Click here to Join L2

While the GEM-63XLs use solid fuel, the booster stage, or first stage, of Vulcan utilizes liquid oxygen and liquid methane as its propellants, similar to other newer rockets, such as SpaceXs Starship and Chinas ZhuQue-2. The Centaur V upper stage, powered by two RL-10C-1-1A engines manufactured by Aerojet Rocketdyne in West Palm Beach, Florida, utilizes liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as its propellants. The engines provide 106 kN of thrust.

A 5.4 m wide payload fairing tops Vulcan, with two fairing lengths available for use. Like the booster stage, the Centaur upper stage and fairings are
made in Decatur, Alabama. Beyond Gravity, a part of the Swiss RUAG technology group, manufactures the fairings in its own Alabama factory, while ULA produces the booster stage and Centaur V in its large facility in Decatur.

The standard fairing is 15.5 m long, while the extended fairing is 21.3 m long. ULA will use the standard fairing on USSF-106. The vehicle for this mission will stand 60.5 meters tall after being assembled in the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) next to the launch pad. Vulcans payload fairing as the vehicle stands ready for its Cert-2 mission. (Credit: ULA)

The VC4S, launching due east from Space Launch Complex-41 (SLC-41) at the
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, will have enough power to launch its two national security satellites directly into geosynchronous orbit, rather than flying them to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) like other rockets.

The forward payload for USSF-106 is classified, while the aft payload is the NTS-3 (Navigation Technology 3) satellite. NTS-3 is a navigation technology demonstrator that will use a programmable digital signal generator. This generators capability to be programmed on orbit can help the satellite adapt to new threats and interference. The 1,250 kg satellite is operated by the
Air Force Research Laboratory.

Payloads launching into GTO need to use their own onboard propulsion systems to circularize their orbits, whereas USSF-106s Centaur V will use its own propulsion to inject the satellites into geosynchronous orbit. This direct injection will enable each satellite to utilize all of its onboard fuel for station-keeping, thereby extending the satellites mission lifetimes. The
NTS-3 satellite undergoing testing ahead of launch. (Credit: Air Force Research Laboratory)

The USSF-106 mission is not the only mission ULA hopes to fly soon with Vulcan. The USSF-87 mission, also using the VC4S configuration, is scheduled to launch in the third quarter of this year, while the KV-01 Project Kuiper mission is expected to fly not too long after USSF-106.

USSF-87, launching from SLC-41 in Florida, is flying the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) 7 and 8 satellites. GSSAP 7 and 8, manufactured by Northrop Grumman, are dedicated Space Surveillance Network sensors that will monitor the space near geosynchronous orbit.

KV-01 will be the first use of Vulcans VC6L configuration, which is the largest and most powerful variant of the rocket currently available. The
VC6L, capable of launching up to 27,200 kg to low-Earth orbit (LEO), uses six GEM-63XL boosters and the 21.3 m long fairing. KV-01 will see the launch and deployment of 45 Kuiper satellites into orbit. Rendering of Centaur V firing its engines. (Credit: Mack Crawford for NSF)

The KV-01 mission will also be the first flight for the LEO-optimized version of the Centaur V upper stage, with the flight serving as a certification mission before the stage can be used on future NSSL flights.

ULA had hoped to launch up to 20 missions between its Atlas V and Vulcan families this year but is likely to miss that target. However, the company hopes to have a busier second half of 2025, following the launch of only two missions during the first half of the year.

Upcoming flights also include the first flight of Sierra Spaces DreamChaser Tenacity on a Vulcan VC4L, as well as additional Kuiper and NSSL missions on Vulcan. Kuiper and ViaSat missions on the Atlas V 551 rocket, the most powerful configuration of that family, are also possible this year.

( Lead image: ULA lifting the booster stage for the USSF-106 mission at the Vertical Integration Facility. Credit: ULA)



The post ULA set to ramp up Vulcan launches and national security missions with USSF-106 appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .



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Link to news story: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2025/07/vulcan-ussf-106-update/


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