Space Systems Command – Spaceflight Now

Vulcan suffers solid rocket booster problem during USSF-87 launch

February 12, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The anomaly appears similar to the nozzle burn through seen during the launch of the second certification flight of a Vulcan rocket.

ULA to launch geosynchronous orbit surveillance satellite for the U.S. Space Force

February 11, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The USSF-87 will be the second national security flight for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket and the fourth flight of this type of rocket to date. Liftoff from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 3:30 a.m. EST (0830 UTC).

U.S. Space Force switches rockets for upcoming GPS satellite launch

January 13, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The change will allow the U.S. Space Force to expedite the process of building out its GPS constellation in medium Earth orbit. The launch date for the next satellite, GPS III Space Vehicle 09, could be within weeks.

Rocket Lab launches 4 novel DiskSat satellites for U.S. Space Force, NASA

December 18, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The STP-S30 mission was moved up five months on the launch manifest for Rocket Lab. This was the 20th launch of an Electron rocket in 2025.

Blue Origin halfway through 4-flight certification to allow launch of national security missions

December 13, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos launched two successful missions in 2025, including landing its first booster on its landing barge.

U.S. Space Force picks Blue Origin bid for expanding satellite processing at Cape Canaveral

October 9, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This is the second award from the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Space Vehicle (SV) Processing Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) contract. Blue Origin will receive $78.25 million for the work.

New U.S. military satellite constellation takes shape with first launch from Vandenberg SFB

September 12, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture constellation is expected to deliver global coverage beginning in 2027. Launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base occurred at 7:12 a.m. PDT (10:12 a.m. EDT / 1412 UTC).

ULA begins stacking its 1st Vulcan rocket supporting a national security mission

July 3, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This is the second time the rocket is being prepared for launch following a months long delay in certifying the launch vehicle. ULA hasn’t announced a specific launch date, but it’s expected sometime this summer.

U.S. Space Force, Lockheed Martin launch newest GPS satellite on SpaceX Falcon rocket

May 30, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission represented a short turnaround time for a national security mission, launching just three months after getting the call up from the government. Liftoff occurred at 1:37 p.m. EDT (1737 UTC).

U.S. Space Force certifies ULA’s Vulcan rocket to begin launching national security missions

March 27, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The conclusion of certification closes out a process that began in September 2016 and saw the government closely track the development of Vulcan alongside United Launch Alliance. Its first National Security Space Launch mission is targeting liftoff over the summer.