U.S. Space Force – Spaceflight Now

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 awards $13.7 billion in new national security launch contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX and ULA

April 5, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The 54 national security missions will be awarded over the course of five years spanning FY25-FY29. The U.S. Space Force said missions are anticipated to fly from FY27-FY32.

U.S. Air Force’s X-37B spaceplane lands following 434-day orbital mission

March 7, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The secretive winged spacecraft launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on Dec. 29, 2023 to conduct a classified mission. The landing concludes the seventh flight of the Boeing-built spacecraft since 2010.

Space Force says first national security Vulcan launch now anticipated in spring 2025

December 18, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The first mission for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket as part of the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract will be USSF-106. ULA began stacking the rocket that will support this mission in October 2024.

SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from California

December 12, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base came on the heels of leaders from the U.S. Space Force gathering to discuss how to adjust to a rapidly increasing launch cadence for both the Eastern Range and Western Range. Liftoff happened at 1:55 p.m. PST (4:55 p.m. EST, 2155 UTC).

Jared Isaacman makes first public remarks since nomination for NASA Administrator

December 12, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

Isaacman spoke before the Space Force Association’s Spacepower Conference on Wednesday. While not directly addressing the nomination, his comments will become part of the record scrutinized by senators during the confirmation process.

ULA begins stacking Vulcan rocket in anticipation of first national security mission

October 23, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The USSF-106 mission will be the first launch of the Vulcan rocket once it receives certification to support missions on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense. A launch date has not yet been announced for the third Vulcan flight.

SpaceX launched twin communications satellites for Space Norway

August 11, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The satellites were manufactured by Northrop Grumman and will provide both commercial broadband connectivity and military satellite communications in the northern polar region. Liftoff happened Sunday, Aug. 11, at 7:02 p.m. PDT (10:02 p.m. EDT 0202 UTC).

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket with national security satellites from Cape Canaveral

February 14, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission, dubbed USSF-124, was the eighth National Security Space Launch using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff occurred at the start of a four-hour launch window that opened at 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 UTC) on Wednesday.

Falcon Heavy launch of secretive X-37B military spaceplane on hold

December 11, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

Falcon Heavy is returning to the hangar and the launch of the USSF-52 mission with the X-37B spaceplane is on hold. A ground issue scrubbed an earlier launch attempt and now required work on the vehicle itself.