United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched multiple US military satellites into a high-altitude orbit using its new Vulcan rocket, marking an important milestone in the transition from development to operations. The mission, designated USSF-106 by the US Space Force, marked the first flight of the Vulcan rocket to carry national security payloads.
The 202-foot-tall Vulcan rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, and was powered by two methane-burning BE-4 main engines and four solid-fueled boosters. The rocket achieved nearly 3 million pounds of thrust and successfully completed its maneuvers in a near-circular geosynchronous orbit over the equator.
The mission included an experimental platform to test next-generation GPS navigation technologies, with additional satellites on board whose details were not disclosed by the Space Force. ULA officials declared success early Wednesday, celebrating the Vulcan rocket’s entry into service and commencing its work on a backlog of more than 70 launches contracted for the US military.
“This is an exciting day for us as we launched the first NSSL flight of Vulcan,” said Col. Jim Horne, USSF-106 mission director. “It’s an outstanding achievement for United Launch Alliance and the nation’s strategic space lift capability.”
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/08/after-first-operational-launch-heres-the-next-big-test-for-ulas-vulcan-rocket