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Vulcan VC4S | USSF-87
United Launch AllianceLaunch Successful

USSF-87

Vulcan VC4S

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 ↗

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Launch success.

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Mission status
Launch Successful

Status reported by the mission data provider.

LAUNCH SITECape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

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
United Launch Alliance
Launch vehicle

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.

2h windowPublished target
WINDOW OPENS
WINDOW CLOSES

Target ·

The target marker shows its position within the published window. The schedule may change before launch.

Weather concerns

Cumulus Cloud Rule

Flight timeline

Planned sequence, not live telemetry. Times are relative to the launch target.

  1. T−00:00:4.9

    Ignition

  2. T+00:00:01

    Liftoff

  3. T+00:00:47.2

    Supersonic

  4. T+00:01:2.5

    Max-Q

  5. T+00:01:37.2

    SRB Separation

  6. T+00:04:57.5

    MECO

Show the full sequence (9 events)
  1. T+00:05:3.5

    Stage 2 Separation

  2. T+00:05:13.5

    SES-1

  3. T+00:05:21.5

    Fairing Separation

Launch site & orbit

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

The mission in perspective

Launch site & orbit

Explore the launch pad, then pull back to see the shape of the destination orbit.

Understand this orbit
NASA Blue Marble map of Earth's continents and oceans
Representative orbit · accelerated illustrationNo live tracking or simulated ascent. NASA Blue Marble.

Coverage & sources

Links supplied by the mission data provider.
Coverage and times may change.

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