Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. — February 12, 2026
The United States Space Force successfully launched the USSF-87 mission aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket early Thursday morning, marking a major milestone for national security space operations and the growing Vulcan launch program.
Lifting off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the Vulcan Centaur flew in its powerful VC4S configuration, equipped with four solid rocket boosters. The mission carried critical payloads directly to geosynchronous orbit (GEO), more than 22,000 miles above Earth.
Mission Purpose
The primary payloads for USSF-87 are part of the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP), specifically satellites known as GSSAP 7 and 8 (also referred to as Hornet 7 and 8). These spacecraft are designed to enhance the U.S. military’s ability to monitor and protect assets in geosynchronous orbit.
GSSAP satellites provide high-resolution space domain awareness, allowing the U.S. Space Force to:
-
Track and characterize objects in GEO
-
Detect potential threats to U.S. and allied satellites
-
Improve collision avoidance and orbital safety
-
Support attribution and anomaly resolution in space
These capabilities are increasingly vital as the geosynchronous belt becomes more congested and strategically important.
Vulcan Centaur’s Growing Role
USSF-87 represents one of the most significant national security missions flown by ULA’s Vulcan Centaur, the company’s next-generation rocket designed to replace the long-serving Atlas V and Delta IV families.
Powered by two BE-4 methane-fueled engines and augmented by four GEM-63XL solid rocket boosters, Vulcan delivered over 3 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. The mission also featured a long-duration upper-stage flight, making it one of the most complex Vulcan missions to date.
This launch further solidifies Vulcan’s certification and growing role in the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.
Supporting National Security in Space
The USSF-87 mission underscores the U.S. Space Force’s focus on maintaining space superiority and ensuring the resilience of critical space infrastructure. With space increasingly viewed as a contested domain, missions like USSF-87 play a key role in protecting U.S. interests and enhancing situational awareness far above Earth.
As Vulcan Centaur continues to take on more national security missions, USSF-87 stands as a significant step forward in both launch capability and space defense readiness.
Add comment
Comments