Launch success.
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Historical mission record
This page records Vulcan VC4S | USSF-87 and its reported outcome: Launch Successful. The date above is a historical record.
Source record updated . This is a source update, not a confirmed launch time.
Check the source: Vulcan USSF-87 ↗ · Launch Library ↗ · Flight Club ↗
What changed?
Status reported by the mission data provider.
Mission
USSF-87 will launch two identical Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites GSSAP-7 and GSSAP-8 directly to a near-geosynchronous orbit approximately 36,000 km above the equator. Data from the GSSAP will uniquely contribute to timely and accurate orbital predictions, further enabling space flight safety including satellite collision avoidance.
- Launch vehicle
- Vulcan VC4S
- Mission type
- Government/Top Secret
- Destination orbit
- Geostationary Orbit
- Launch pad
- Space Launch Complex 41
- Provider
- United Launch Alliance
The vehicle
Published configuration and flight history.

Vulcan VC4S
Vulcan Centaur is a two-stage-to-orbit, heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by United Launch Alliance (ULA) since 2014. It is principally designed to meet launch demands for the U.S. government's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program for use by the United States Space Force and U.S. intelligence agencies for national security satellite launches. It will replace both of ULA's existing launchers (Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy) in this role, as these launchers are retiring.
- Recorded launches
- 2
- First flight
- 2025-08-13
Recorded timing
This is a mission record, not an upcoming calendar appointment.
Target ·
The target marker shows its position within the published window. The schedule may change before launch.
Cumulus Cloud Rule
Flight timeline
Planned sequence, not live telemetry. Times are relative to the launch target.
- T−00:00:4.9
Ignition
- T+00:00:01
Liftoff
- T+00:00:47.2
Supersonic
- T+00:01:2.5
Max-Q
- T+00:01:37.2
SRB Separation
- T+00:04:57.5
MECO
Show the full sequence (9 events)
- T+00:05:3.5
Stage 2 Separation
- T+00:05:13.5
SES-1
- T+00:05:21.5
Fairing Separation
Launch site & orbit
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Launch site & orbit
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Understand this orbit
Coverage & sources
Links supplied by the mission data provider.
Coverage and times may change.
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