Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft awaits its capture by the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm, commanded by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick on Aug. 6, 2024.
Credit: NASA

SpaceX is planning to launch Falcon 9 and the Northrup-Grumman CRS-2 mission towards low Earth orbit and the International Space Station this evening. Shortly afterward, the Space Coast will hear a sonic boom as the booster returns to land at Cape Canaveral.

Launch time is scheduled for 6:11:48 PM ET in an instantaneous window. As is standard for most launches to Station, should weather or technical reasons prevent a launch at the time, SpaceX will be forced to stand down and wait for the next window tomorrow.

Payload

Tonight’s mission will be the Cygnus XL variant of Northrup-Gruman’s cargo delivery spacecraft. The XL is a “stretched” version that offers significantly more cargo volume and payload mass compared to earlier Cygnus versions. Specifically, it increases the cargo-carrying capacity by approximately 1,250 kg (roughly 33%) over the baseline, bringing its total payload capacity to around 5,000 kg (11,000 pounds) of pressurized cargo.

Among the research payloads are experiments for growing semiconductor crystals in microgravity, tools to refine technologies for cryogenic fuel tanks (which are critical for future space missions), and a UV light system designed to limit microbial growth in the station’s water systems. Also aboard are supplies for pharmaceutical crystal development with implications for cancer and other disease treatments. No ice cream this time, we checked and did not see it mentioned in NASA’s manifest.

Weather

Compared to other missions of late, the Launch Mission Execution Forecast from the 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 is almost optimistic: 75% GO at launch time.

Trajectory

Northeast on the well-worn path to ISS:

Streaming Options

NASA will livestream the launch on NASA-TV. Coverage starts about 20-30 minutes before liftoff.

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

Please note that there is a delay between the launch stream and the actual countdown clock if you are watching in person. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.

Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also available online at nextspaceflight.com.

A Falcon booster returning to land at Cape Canaveral
Photo: Charles Boyer

Launch Viewing: In Person

Since the launch is during the early evening, a lot of options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets. Jetty Park will have the best view of the booster return, but not as spectacular a view of liftoff. On the other hand, Titusville parks will have the opposite: a great view of liftoff but not as close as Jetty Park for the landing.

Playalinda Beach is several miles north of the launch pad, but ignition and of course the flight of the rocket and its return are visible from that location. If you go, go early in case the crowds are heavy.

Other options include The Space Bar, a rooftop bar at the Courtyard By Marriott in Titusville. It offers great views of the launches and a full bar and menu. Other options include New York, New York on the Indian River in Titusville, but if you want to grab a bite, go early, because their kitchen usually closes for the day around 6:30 PM.

File photo of a Falcon 9 lifting off from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,
Photo: Charles Boyer
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This week, weather has definitely not been SpaceX’s friend. Due to a stalled frontal boundary to the north of the Space Coast, thunderstorms have been nearly continuous for several days, keeping Falcon 9 and the Nusantara Lima mission on the pad waiting for its launch. Tonight, the company plans its third attempt.

At A Glance

Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Nusantara Lima — Go for Launch!
Organization SpaceX
Location Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket Falcon 9
Pad Space Launch Complex 40
Status Go for Launch
Status Info Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens Wednesday, 09/10/2025 8:00 PM
Window Closes Wednesday, 09/10/2025 9:55 PM
Destination Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Satellite Operator PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), Indonesia
Mission Description Nusantara Lima is an Indonesian geostationary communications satellite with a capacity of more than 160 Gbps.

As of 12:18 PM Wednesday September 10, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

Weather

Not great, but improving: the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron of Launch Delta 45 is calling for a 40->60% probability of acceptable weather. Essentially, they are saying that weather will improve through the launch window — it will be 40% at 8:00pm and by the end of the window that will increase to 60%.

Of course, that’s just a forecast, and the launch probabilities will be calculated continuously through the launch window until Falcon 9 lifts off or SpaceX calls off the launch.

Trajectory

Launch Viewing: In Person

The best free options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets.

The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. 

Launch Viewing: Online

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.

Read more

File photo of a Falcon 9 launching from SLC-40 in 2024.
Photo: Charles Boyer

A final environmental assessment approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clears the path for SpaceX to build and operate a Falcon 9 rocket landing zone at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

NOTE: this is not either one of the two Starship EA currently underway for the Eastern Range.

The assessment also supports an increase in the number of annual Falcon 9 launches from SLC-40, raising the cap from 50 to 120 per year. The FAA’s decision, finalized in August 2025, comes after months of federal coordination, public comment, and technical review.

The document is below, and it can also be downloaded from the FAA website: SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations at Space Launch Complex-40.

Falcon LC40 LZ and Launch Increase EADownload

FAA Approval Enables New Landing Zone, Expanded Launch Schedule

The FAA, acting as the lead federal agency, reviewed SpaceX’s proposal to both increase the number of Falcon 9 launches and construct a 400-foot-diameter concrete landing pad east of the SLC-40 pad. According to the final Environmental Assessment (EA), the FAA concluded that the project would not cause significant adverse environmental impacts.

With this approval, SpaceX may now move forward in seeking:

  • A modification to its current launch license (LLO 18-105),
  • A potential new launch license under 14 CFR Part 450, and
  • Airspace closure approvals for each launch and landing.

The FAA emphasized that environmental clearance does not automatically guarantee license approval but does permit further steps toward that end.

Construction of the new landing zone will occur within a 10-acre lease boundary adjacent to the existing launch site. The landing zone includes a concrete pad, gravel apron, nitrogen gas line, processing pedestal, and associated infrastructure.

Falcon 9 Operations at SLC-40
Figure 2-5. Proposed Landing Zone
Final Environmental Assessment 2-7 August 2025

Environmental Effects

Water & Wetlands

Florida Scrub Jay in MINWR. Photo: Charles Boyer

The final EA identified that the construction and operation of the new landing site will affect several protected habitats and species, notably the Florida scrub-jay and Southeastern beach mouse. In consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a Biological Opinion concluded the project “is not likely to jeopardize” listed species or critical habitats, provided mitigation measures are followed. Those measures include habitat compensation and best management practices during construction.

Noise and Sonic Booms

Noise impacts—especially those resulting from rocket landings—were analyzed in detail. Falcon 9 landings at Cape Canaveral generate sonic booms, but the FAA determined that their frequency and intensity fall within previously analyzed limits. Up to 34 landings annually are expected to take place at the new SLC-40 site. Downrange ocean landings using drone ships will continue for the remainder.

The EA also confirmed that sonic boom pressure levels from the new landing zone would be comparable to existing operations at LZ-1 and LZ-2. Noise levels would be highest during landings but occur infrequently enough that they do not trigger significant regulatory thresholds under federal guidance.

From Appendix B “Final Environmental Assessment Falcon 9 Operations at SLC-40” via the FAA

Public Input

The FAA received more than 4,000 public comments during the review period for the draft EA. Public engagement included virtual meetings, local newspaper notices, and hard copies of the document being distributed to several Brevard County libraries.

According the FAA, most comments expressed support or posed technical questions, with at least one requesting that the FAA produce a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), citing concerns about cumulative effects and development intensity. The FAA opted to finalize the EA instead, citing that the expected impacts did not reach the threshold requiring a more extensive EIS process.

No substantial objections were raised by local municipalities or regulatory agencies. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, for instance, found the project consistent with the Florida Coastal Management Program.

With the EA finalized and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) likely, the next phase will involve regulatory and operational coordination:

  1. FAA Licensing – SpaceX must receive formal approval to modify its current launch license or obtain a new one under updated regulations.
  2. Property Agreement – The Department of the Air Force must execute a real property agreement allowing SpaceX to lease and develop the LZ.
  3. Permitting – SpaceX will need a modified Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) from the state and a stormwater permit under the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
  4. Construction and Testing – Once approved, construction is expected to begin ahead of the LZ-1/2 license expiration in early 2026.
  5. Airspace Coordination – FAA will continue issuing Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), while the Coast Guard will support maritime safety operations during launches and landings.

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CRS-33 launches aboard Falcon 9
Falcon 9 lifts off from SLC-40 and starts the CRS-2 SpX33 mission in Cape Canaveral last night.
Photo: SpaceX

SpaceX launched Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral overnight, sending supplies to the International Space Station aboard Cargo Dragon. Liftoff was at 02:45 AM ET into partly cloudy skies.

Tonight’s launch was the seventh for Booster 1090, which landed safely aboard ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ some eight minutes and forty seconds after liftoff. ‘ASOG’ will now return to Port Canaveral, where the booster will be unloaded and transported to SpaceX’s Hangar X for inspection, refurbishment and preparation for its next mission.

At T+08:47, Cargo Dragon achieved its initial orbit, and less than a minute later, it separated from Falcon 9’s second stage and began to make its way to the International Space Station, where it is expected to dock tomorrow morning.

Cargo

Food, supplies, hardware and new scientific experiments make up the bulk of the cargo being carried to ISS. For more specifcs, consult our Launch Preview article.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10-11 — Go for Launch!
Organization SpaceX
Location Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Rocket Falcon 9
Pad Launch Complex 39A
Status Go for Launch
Status Info Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens Wednesday, 08/27/2025 1:49 AM
Window Closes Wednesday, 08/27/2025 5:49 AM
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation — SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

As of 1:39 PM Sunday August 24, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

Read more

Falcon 9
Falcon 9
Falcon 9 launching from SLC-40
Photo: Charles Boyer

SpaceX and NASA are set to send supplies to ISS overnight aboard Cargo Dragon. Liftoff is set for 2:45:36 AM ET in an instantaneous window. And it will be a quick trip once in orbit: after an approximate 28-hour flight, Dragon will dock with the orbiting outpost on Monday, August 25, around 7:30 AM ET.

At A Glance

Field Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Dragon CRS-2 SpX-33 — Go for Launch!
Organization SpaceX
Location Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket Falcon 9
Pad Space Launch Complex 40
Status Go for Launch
Status Info Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens Sunday, 08/24/2025 2:45:36 AM
Window Closes Sunday, 08/24/2025 2:45:36 AM
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description 33rd commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station operated by SpaceX. The flight will be conducted under the second Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA.

Cargo Dragon 2 brings supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support science and research investigations that occur onboard the orbiting laboratory.

As of 10:00 AM Saturday August 23, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

Along with the usual gamut of food, gear, and crew supplies, CRS-33 will deliver a range of scientific experiments to the International Space Station. These include stem cells that promote bone formation, aimed at studying how to prevent bone loss in space. Dragon will also carry materials for 3D printing medical implants—research that could lead to better treatments for nerve damage back on Earth.

The Tortilla Express

Another item on the launch manifest for CRS-33 is roughly 1500 tortillas. They are a staple food aboard Station — convenient, quick, and quite handy to bundle up other food items…breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are a crumb-free condensed item, making the humble tortilla one of the most likely foods humans will carry to Mars and beyond.

Other payloads include bioprinted liver tissue for examining how blood vessels form in microgravity, and tools for printing metal cubes in orbit.

Planned Reboost Test For Cargo Dragon

Cargo Dragon will also conduct a reboost test to help maintain the station’s altitude. The boost system, housed in Dragon’s trunk, features its own propellant setup and uses a pair of Draco engines powered by existing hardware.

Starting in September 2025, the system will carry out a series of burns to demonstrate its ability to sustain the lab’s orbit. This follows Dragon’s first successful test of the reboost function on November 8, 2024, during NASA’s 31st commercial resupply mission with SpaceX.

Cargo Dragon is expected to stay docked at the station through December after which it will return to Earth off of the coast of California.

Booster: B1090

This will be the seventh flight of first stage B1090, which will be supporting this mission. Previously, B1090 launched O3b mPOWER-E, Crew-10, Bandwagon-3, O3b mPOWER-D, and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, it will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas, located downrange off the South Carolina coast. There will not be a sonic boom on the Space Coast after the launch.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 released their Launch Mission Execution Forecast yesterday afternoon, and it calls for a 70% chance of acceptable weather, with watch items being the usual summer items: cumulus clouds and nearby lightning.

Trajectory

Northeast, on the usual ISS route.

B1090 will touch down off the South Carolina coast aboard ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’

Online Viewing

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: CRS-33. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about twenty minutes before liftoff.

A night-time SLC-40 launch as seen from Kennedy Point Park in Titusville.
A night-time SLC-40 launch as seen from Kennedy Point Park in Titusville.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The best free options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets. Don’t forget bug spray.

Read more

SpaceX USSF-36 OTV-8
SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying the USSF-36 OTV-8 mission lifting off from Launch Complex 39-A at Kennedy Space Center last night.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX launched their 101st Falcon 9 mission of 2025 last night from Kennedy Space Center when the company sent the Boeing X-37 space plane to low Earth orbit on a classified mission. Liftoff was at 11:50 PM EDT, shortly after the opening of the launch window.

Following a “norminal” initial ascent and stage separation, Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1092 touched down at Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, concluding its sixth flight successfully about 8 miles away from its starting point. This booster previously launched NROL-69, CRS-32, GPS III-7, and two Starlink missions and will soon be transported for refurbishment at SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center.

A post-staging “nebula” appeared above Kennedy Space Center last night as Booster B1092 began its RTLS maneuvers that would guide the vehicle to Landing Zone 2.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Payload

The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) is a reusable, uncrewed spaceplane developed by Boeing for the United States Space Force. Roughly the size of a small bus, it resembles a miniature space shuttle orbiter and operates in low Earth orbit for extended missions—some lasting over 900 days.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Field Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Dragon CRS-2 SpX-33 — Go for Launch!
Organization SpaceX
Location Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket Falcon 9
Pad Space Launch Complex 40
Status Go for Launch
Status Info Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens Sunday, 08/24/2025 2:45:09 AM
Window Closes Sunday, 08/24/2025 2:45:09 AM
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description 33rd commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station operated by SpaceX. The flight will be conducted under the second Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA.

Cargo Dragon 2 brings supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support science and research investigations that occur onboard the orbiting laboratory.

As of 2:00 AM Friday August 22, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

Read more

As Space Coast skies faded into night, United Launch Alliance launched their Vulcan-Centaur rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at 7:59 PM Eastern Time, carrying the classified USSF-106 mission for the U.S. Space Force. The evening launch, near the end of the one-hour window, was a successful return for the vehicle after its near-catastrophic solid rocket failure in its last launch in October, 2024.

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ULA Vulcan USSF-106 launches in August of 2025. Photo: Charles Boyer
United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan lifts off carrying the USSF-106 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on August 12, 2025
Photo: Charles Boyer ./ Talk of Titusville

United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched its Vulcan-Centaur rocket from LC-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying the the USSF‑106 mission Tuesday night. Liftoff was at 8:56 PM ET, close to the end of the launch window and into partly cloudy skies, as the usual summer storms were mostly west of the Cape and far away enough to present no problem for the launch team.

This was Vulcan-Centaur’s first operational mission and the first national security payload to utilize its services, a milestone ULA has been working toward since 2014. ULA has faced scrutiny over Vulcan, with military officials calling for more reliability and accountability as the company shifts gearsto its new fleet. There are no more Delta-family launches left, and a dwindling number of Atlas-V launches, most of which are planned for Amazon’s Kuiper Project as well as the Boeing Starliner program.

The DoD awarded ULA a multibillion‑dollar contract in April 2025, securing 19 missions through 2034 under the NSSL Phase 2 procurement. Having completed its certification for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions, Vulcan-Centaur and ULA join SpaceX as one of only two providers cleared to carry critical U.S. military and intelligence assets.

“National security begins at liftoff,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “Vulcan did exactly what it was built to do: deliver a critical mission with power, precision and confidence. We are proud to play a role in strengthening the nation’s space capabilities.” 

A closeup of ULA’s Vulcan-Centaur leaping off of the launch pad on August 12, 2025.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Two methane‑fueled Blue Origin BE‑4 engines power Vulcan Centaur’s core stage, and for this mission, it was equipped with four Northrop Grumman GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters. Two L3 Harris Rocketdyne RL‑10 engines power the second stage, making Vulcan-Centaur a powerful workhorse for the company as it moves into the future.

Payload

The centerpiece of USSF‑106 is the Navigation Technology Satellite‑3 (NTS‑3) a pioneering PNT (position, navigation, and timing) satellite developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. It’s the first experimental navigation satellite launched by the U.S. military in nearly half a century—a milestone with huge implications for future secure and adaptive navigation systems.

Also aboard USSF-106 was another undisclosed payload, and requests to the Space Force for any additional information were not granted. That’s the nature of classified payloads, and the fewer questions asked the better.

A partial view of NTS-3, provided by the US Space Force and L3-Harris
A partial view of NTS-3, provided by the US Space Force and L3-Harris

More information on the satellite can be found in this video:

Next Launch

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10-20 Mission Details
MissionFalcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10-20
OrganizationSpaceX
LocationCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5
PadSpace Launch Complex 40
StatusGo for Launch
Status InfoCurrent T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window OpensThursday, 08/14/2025 6:47 AM EDT
Window ClosesThursday, 08/14/2025 10:47 AM EDT
DestinationLow Earth Orbit
Mission DescriptionA batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation—SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.
Information current as of: August 12, 2025 (based on latest verified sources)

Launch dates and liftoff times are subject to change at any time.

ULA’s next launch is the third Atlas mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Kuiper 3, which will launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. That could occur in 4-6 weeks according to unofficial estimates.

Read more

A small jellyfish seen behind an Atlas V

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is gearing up for a Vulcan launch tonight from SLC-41, USSF-106. Liftoff is set between 7:59 and 8:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (2359–0059 UTC). And, if weather and timing permits, the launch may come with a bonus: a jellyfish plume, one of the most spectacular sights a launch spectator can see.

The weather looks favorable, with an 80% chance of conditions being acceptable through the launch window. The primary concerns include cumulus clouds, lightning potential, and surface electric fields. This is of course a common scenario for late-afternoon summer launches on the Space Coast. Final launch preparations by ULA and the Space Force, including the launch vehicle readiness review, are complete and “GO” for tonight.

Launch Time Is Near Local Sunset

If the skies cooperate and if the timing is just right, one of tonight’s most awe-inducing side effects could be a “space jellyfish”, a glowing, jellyfish-shaped plume formed by sunlight illuminating rocket exhaust at high altitude, while the ground below remains in twilight or darkness.

Here’s how it works:

  • Timing is critical: Launching during twilight means the rocket ascends into sunlight while observers are in shadow. That’s because on the ground, the sun is below the horizon but is still visible in the ultra high altitudes a rocket travels through on its way to space. That’s simple geometry: the angle to the horizon is different for the rocket.
  • Clear Skies: If low clouds are between the spectator and the rocket, they won’t see much.
  • High-altitude expansion: If you have seen only a few launches, you probably remember the phase towards the end of the first stage’s part of the flight where gases spread into a broad, diffuse cloud that forms a conical shape behind the rocket. This is not the Max-Q contrail, something common to most rockets, instead, it happens very high in the sky when the rocket’s is mostly outside of Earth’s atmosphere.
  • Optical spectacle: Because it is still in sunlight, the rocket plume is an illuminated cloud that takes on a jellyfish-like shapes, maybe with tendrils trailing behind, formed by thinner exhaust streams.
  • Darkness: the relative contrast between the ground and the sky makes this phenomenon highly visible to launch spectators.

Details

Vulcan VC4S | USSF-106 Mission Details
MissionVulcan VC4S | USSF-106
OrganizationUnited Launch Alliance
LocationCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
RocketVulcan VC4S
PadSpace Launch Complex 41
StatusGo for Launch
Status InfoCurrent T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window OpensTuesday, 08/12/2025 7:59 PM EDT
Window ClosesTuesday, 08/12/2025 8:59 PM EDT
DestinationGeosynchronous Orbit
Mission DescriptionUSSF-106 is a mission for the United States Space Force deploying payloads—including NTS-3 (Navigation Technology Satellite 3), a demonstrator of a reprogrammable navigation signal generator—directly into GEO.
Information current as of: August 11, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT

Launch dates and liftoff times are subject to change at any time.

Trajectory

Slightly south from due East:

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 estimates an 80% chance of acceptable launch conditions throughout the hour-long window:

Online Viewing

ULA  will have a livestream of the launch on their website: USSF-106. 

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch times, ULA’s website is the best source of information. Look for the Live Updates section: USSF-106

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The best free options are available for spectators: Titusville parks on Washington Avenu / US-1 are your best bets: Space View Park, Sands Park, Rotary Riverfront Park, Kennedy Point Park, etc. Jetty Park is also good, as are the pullouts on 528W near the Banana River Bridge.

The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.

Read more

Vulcan Cert 2 liftoff
ULA’s Vulcan with the USSF-106 mission on the launch pad.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is preparing to launch Vulcan on its first national security mission early next week from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, the USSF-106 mission will lift off from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 41, carrying the U.S. Space Force’s Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) into geosynchronous orbit.

Launch Details

Vulcan VC4S | USSF-106 (NTS-3 & Others) Mission Details
MissionVulcan VC4S | USSF-106 (NTS-3 & Others)
OrganizationUnited Launch Alliance
LocationCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
RocketVulcan VC4S
PadSpace Launch Complex 41
StatusGo for Launch
Status InfoCurrent T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window OpensTuesday, 08/12/2025 7:59 PM EDT
Window ClosesTuesday, 08/12/2025 8:59 PM EDT
DestinationGeosynchronous Orbit (GEO)
Mission DescriptionUSSF-106 is a U.S. Space Force mission deploying multiple payloads—including the NTS-3 (Navigation Technology Satellite 3), a demonstration satellite testing a reprogrammable digital signal generator to improve navigation resilience—directly into GEO using the new Vulcan Centaur VC4S rocket.
Information current as of: August 10, 2025, 11:54 AM EDT

Launch dates and liftoff times are subject to change at any time.

USSF-106 will be Vulcan’s first operational flight, a milestone years in the making. ULA started work on the Vulcan family of rockets in 2014, and later the same year decided to use Blue Origin’s BE-4 methane-oxygen (methalox) engines. The decision was somewhat controversial at the time, given that Blue had not completed the final design of BE-4 much less started producing them at scale. It is ULA’s first rocket that the company has designed completely by itself.

This decision was a result of a way to move away from reliance on Russian RD-180 engines, which powered ULA’s Atlas V, and to ensure a domestically produced alternative for national security launches, and was mandated by Congress.

High Stakes for ULA

The mission is a key test not only of the rocket’s technical reliability but also of ULA’s ability to deliver on commitments that have been delayed by the vehicle’s troubled rollout. Military leaders, including Major General Stephen G. Purdy, have voiced frustration with setbacks that pushed back four major national security missions.

Vulcan CERT-2, midflight.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

For ULA, this launch is more than just another flight; it is a chance to restore customer confidence after the near-disaster of Vulcan’s second certification mission last October. That launch succeeded in reaching orbit, but only after a solid rocket booster nozzle broke off mid-flight, causing asymmetric thrust that had to be corrected in real time by the in-flight software and by ground controllers. The incident raised concerns about the Vulcan’s Northrup Grumman-built GEM 63XL solid rocket motors, which lead to months of investigation and a test firing before certification for Vulcan was granted in March.

ULA holds a $5.3 billion contract to provide launch services through 2034, a lucrative and strategically important deal that depends on consistent, fault-free performance. A successful USSF-106 flight would help Vulcan’s place as a major part of the nation’s launch capability. A failure would put the company’s reputation and perhaps even government contracts in peril.

Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Payload

The mission’s payload, NTS-3, is an experimental navigation satellite designed to test advanced technologies designed to augment the GPS system.

The Air Force Research Lab released this video describing NTS-3:

NTS-3 concept image
Artist’s concept for NTS-3 in geostationary orbit. L3Harris Corporation will integrate NTS-3 using Northrop Grumman’s ESPAStar bus, building on EAGLE’s flight heritage. Graphic Credit: 1st Lt. Jacob Lutz
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