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.
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.”
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.
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.
More information on the satellite can be found in this video:
| Mission | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10-20 |
|---|---|
| Organization | SpaceX |
| Location | Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Pad | Space Launch Complex 40 |
| Status | Go for Launch |
| Status Info | Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Window Opens | Thursday, 08/14/2025 6:47 AM EDT |
| Window Closes | Thursday, 08/14/2025 10:47 AM EDT |
| Destination | Low Earth Orbit |
| Mission Description | A 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.
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.
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:
| Mission | Vulcan VC4S | USSF-106 |
|---|---|
| Organization | United Launch Alliance |
| Location | Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA |
| Rocket | Vulcan VC4S |
| Pad | Space Launch Complex 41 |
| Status | Go for Launch |
| Status Info | Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Window Opens | Tuesday, 08/12/2025 7:59 PM EDT |
| Window Closes | Tuesday, 08/12/2025 8:59 PM EDT |
| Destination | Geosynchronous Orbit |
| Mission Description | USSF-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.
Slightly south from due East:
The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 estimates an 80% chance of acceptable launch conditions throughout the hour-long window:
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.
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.
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.
| Mission | Vulcan VC4S | USSF-106 (NTS-3 & Others) |
|---|---|
| Organization | United Launch Alliance |
| Location | Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA |
| Rocket | Vulcan VC4S |
| Pad | Space Launch Complex 41 |
| Status | Go for Launch |
| Status Info | Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Window Opens | Tuesday, 08/12/2025 7:59 PM EDT |
| Window Closes | Tuesday, 08/12/2025 8:59 PM EDT |
| Destination | Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) |
| Mission Description | USSF-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.
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.
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.
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:
Under clear, hot skies this morning, United Launch Alliance launched one of their fifteen remaining Atlas V rockets carrying 27 satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper. Launch was at 6:54 AM from LC-41 at Cape Canaveral and by all appearances, it was a nominal flight for the veteran rocket. This was the 103rd launch for an Atlas V which entered service on August 21, 2002. All missions save one have been successful, and that mission was a partial success on Atlas V’s first launch.
Today’s launch was the second attempt for this mission. On June 16th, the countdown was halted due to an engine problem, necessitating a return trip to ULA’s Vertical Integration Facility, located at LC-37, for repairs. Once the issues were remediated, the rocket and the weather both cooperated flawlessly in today’s countdown, leading to the launch at the opening of the launch window.
Today’s mission will place 27 Kuiper satellites into orbit, making 54 of the planned 3,236 satellites in 98 orbital planes across three orbital shells at altitudes of 590 km, 610 km, and 630 km. Those satellites that will comprise the constellation Amazon is planning for Internet connectivity services. While Amazon has thousands of satellites left on the manifest to launch for Project Kuiper, the company has stated that they plan to start providing internet service later this year.
“We are proud to continue our strong partnership with Amazon and empower their mission to bridge the digital divide through reliable satellite technology,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “ULA, working as a catalyst to global connectivity in collaboration with Amazon, enables delivery of these critical satellites designed to drive innovation and connect the world.”
At 8:02 AM ET, ULA announced that they had placed the payload into a successful orbit, marking the operational end of the mission.
Kuiper is planned to compete against SpaceX’s Starlink Internet service, which is already far ahead both in terms of satellites on orbit (Starlink has over 7,000, with their number increasing with as many as three launches per week) and customers (Starlink has over six million customers in over 100 countries and territories worldwide.) While Starlink has a massive head start, Amazon is hoping to play the hare to SpaceX’s rabbit and to provide a viable source of competition to the SpaceX product as soon as is possible.
ULA’s next launch is the first Vulcan mission for the U.S. Space Force, USSF-106.
Not much is known about the appearance of the Kuiper satellite, as Amazon has kept a tight lid on the information released about the physical appearance of their orbital platforms.
Wednesday afternoon, SpaceX plans to launch another group of Starlink satellites from SLC-40.
| Mission | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10‑16 |
|---|---|
| Organization | SpaceX |
| Location | Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Pad | Space Launch Complex 40 |
| Status | To Be Confirmed |
| Status Info | Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty. |
| Window Opens | Wednesday, 06/25/2025 12:33:00 PM EDT |
| Window Closes | Wednesday, 06/25/2025 4:33:00 PM EDT |
| Destination | Low Earth Orbit |
| Mission Description | A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega‑constellation – SpaceX’s project for a space‑based Internet communication system. |
Under clear, hot skies this morning, United Launch Alliance launched one of their fifteen remaining Atlas V rockets carrying 27 satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper. Launch was at 6:54 AM from LC-41 at Cape Canaveral and by all appearances, it was a nominal flight for the veteran rocket. This was the 103rd launch for the venerable rocket. The first Atlas V launch was on August 21, 2002.
Amazon’s satellite internet project, Kuiper, will continue its deployment today with the planned launch of the Kuiper K-02 mission at 1:25 PM ET aboard an United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket. This mission will deliver 27 operational satellites into low Earth orbit, adding to the 27 satellites deployed earlier this year in April.
The Kuiper project is Amazon’s initiative to provide broadband internet service through a constellation of satellites. Today’s launch is the second of a series that aims to meet the conditions set by the Federal Communications Commission, which require half of the planned 3,236 satellites to be in orbit by mid-2026. The full network is expected to be completed by mid-2029.
The Atlas V 551 rocket, used for this launch, is among ULA’s more powerful configurations. It includes five solid rocket boosters and a medium payload fairing.
Following deployment, the satellites will be elevated from their initial orbit of approximately 450 kilometers to an operational altitude of around 630 kilometers. From this position, they will begin supporting future broadband service coverage as part of Amazon’s long-term strategy to enter the satellite internet market.
Operational Strategy and Technology Capabilities
Each satellite in the Kuiper constellation is equipped with propulsion and communication technologies to maintain orbit and link with both ground stations and other satellites. The system includes inter-satellite laser links, which allow the satellites to pass data directly between one another. These optical links are designed to support high-throughput connections, improving the flexibility and resilience of the network.
The K-02 mission represents the continued transition from prototype to full-scale operations. The first launch in April tested Amazon’s satellite bus and operational model. With K-02, Amazon is moving forward with production models that are expected to serve as a foundational layer of the broader constellation. The mission is part of a deployment strategy that includes multiple launch providers and vehicle types, including upcoming launches on ULA’s Vulcan Centaur, SpaceX Falcon 9, and the European Ariane 6.
Amazon has publicly committed more than $10 billion to the development and deployment of the Kuiper constellation. The company is building out supporting infrastructure in tandem with the satellites, including user terminals and ground communication sites. The terminals, developed in-house, are designed to be compact and cost-effective. Amazon has said these terminals will support download speeds up to 400 Mbps and will be priced under $400, though full commercial service has not yet begun.
In the near term, newly launched satellites will undergo a series of health and status checks, after which their thrusters will be used to reach final orbit. Amazon’s Kuiper operations team, based in Redmond, Washington, is managing the process, which includes positioning, testing communication links, and preparing the satellites to eventually join the active broadband network.
Northeast.
Summer is nearly back on the Space Coast, with warm temperatures and a persistent threat of rain in the afternoon and evenings — typical weather here, and it will stay this way for several months. That being said, Atlas V was able to beat the weather last night and launched at the opening of its window, with liftoff at 7:01 PM ET after an apparently quiet countdown, save for some concerns about the energy potential of a nearby anvil cloud (Cumulonimbus incus) lingering near the launch pad before dissipating.
Summer is nearly back on the Space Coast, with warm temperatures and a persistent threat of rain in the afternoon and evenings — typical weather here, and it will stay this way for several months. That being said, Atlas V was able to beat the weather last night and launched at the opening of its window, with liftoff at 7:01 PM ET after an apparently quiet countdown, save for some concerns about the energy potential of a nearby anvil cloud (Cumulonimbus incus) lingering near the launch pad before dissipating.
The launch carried 27 Amazon Kuiper satellites to orbit. These were the first operational units of Amazon’s planned Internet service constellation, which is planned to feature some 3,236 units when fully built out.
For more information about Project Kuiper, click here.
Atlas V was outfitted in its 551 configuration, meaning it had five GEM 63 solid rockets strapped onto the booster for additional lift. It also had a five-meter fairing, the largest used on the venerable member of ULA’s stable. Tory Bruno, CEO of ULA, calls this setup “The Bruiser” and that’s an apt name: it’s a big rocket and has a lot of power. Good thing, because yesterday, Atlas V carried the most weight to orbit in 155 missions so far.
The launch was nominal, as was the flight to orbit. At 7:18 Tory Bruno announced on X.com that the payload was in orbit, and later, after deployment, Project Kuiper posted that it had established communications with all 27 Kuiper satellites. With that, the mission was a full success.
| Mission | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-75 |
|---|---|
| Organization | SpaceX |
| Location | Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Pad | Space Launch Complex 40 |
| Status | To Be Confirmed |
| Status Info | Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty. |
| Window Opens | Wednesday, 04/30/2025 10:17:00 PM EDT |
| Window Closes | Thursday, 05/01/2025 2:48:00 AM EDT |
| Destination | Low Earth Orbit |
| Mission Description | A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system. |
Please note that the launch window times are provided in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
For the most current information regarding the launch schedule and status, please refer to official updates from SpaceX.com
United Launch Alliance is set to launch and Atlas V 551 this evening from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 7:00 PM ET and closes again at 9:00 PM the same day.
This will be ULA’s first launch this year. The company is winding down Atlas V launches, with only fifteen remaining, tonight’s launch included. ULA also recently retired Delta IV Heavy, and launched the last one a year ago today. The company is moving towards its Vulcan rocket, which it has launched twice. Vulcan recently received USSL certification for its new Vulcan rocket, which is now awaiting payloads prior to its next flight.
As is customary with Atlas V, all stages are expendable, so there will be no landing and retrieval of the booster. After its job is done for the day, it will crash into the ocean and sleep with the fishes.
For More Coverage of Amazon Kuiper Project, click here.
The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Delta 45 has posted their Launch Mission Execution Forecast, and they are rating the chances of a weather violation at 25% on Monday, April 28, with chances dropping drastically to only a 10% chance of weather being an issue on Tuesday, April, 29th.
Northeast. Depending on when Atlas V launches, it may put on quite a show. Local sunset is 7:45 PM ET, so if the launch is at the opening of the window, we will see a beautiful sunset launch. If it is delayed an hour, the sun will have set on the ground, but Civil Twilight last until 8:09 PM and that means that Atlas V’s plumes will still be in sunlight up high. It might be interesting, but forecasting a jellyfish plume is tricky.
Similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, Project Kuiper is Amazon’s initiative to provide global broadband access through a constellation of over 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Announced in 2019, the project’s goal is to deliver fast, affordable internet connectivity to unserved and underserved communities worldwide. Like Starlink, by leveraging LEO satellites, Project Kuiper aims to provide low-latency broadband services to a diverse range of customers, including individual households, schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies.
To achieve this, Amazon plans to deploy some 3,236 satellites at altitudes ranging from 590 to 630 kilometers. The company has secured agreements for up to 83 launches over a five-year period, utilizing various launch providers such as Arianespace’s Ariane 6, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, and United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V and later, Vulcan Centaur.
Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link
For official updates regarding launch times, United Launch Alliance’s website is the best source of information. 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.
The southern viewing spots are the best for this launch, but none are particularly close except for Playalinda Beach. Problem is, Playalinda closes at 8PM, so unless the launch is right on time, it won’t be an option.
The best free options are available for spectators: 528 West at the Banana River Bridge, Jetty Park and Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral. Southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenu / US-1 are also good: Kennedy Point and Rotary Riverfront Park are your best bets.
Local recommendations also say the Cafe Paradiso and Ven pa’ Ca Café are excellent choices for before, after and even during launches. Grab a bite to eat, walk over to the Indian River and watch the launch.
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