USSF-87: GSSAP 7, GSSAP 8 – Vulcan VC4S – Cape Canaveral SLC-41 – 02.02.2026

[zandr]

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6147/

USSF-87 (GSSAP 7 & 8 )
Liftoff Time
No Earlier Than January, 2026

Mission Details
GSSAP 7 & 8 (USSF-87)
Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites are a space-based capability operating in the near-geosynchronous orbit regime supporting U.S. Space Command space surveillance operations as a dedicated Space Surveillance Network (SSN) sensor.
Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman
Operator: United States Space Force
Geostationary Earth Orbit
2 Payloads

Rocket
Vulcan VC4S rocket by United Launch Alliance
...
Launch Site
SLC-41
Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

[zandr]

https://x.com/ulalaunch/status/2006400750763598051

ULA  @ulalaunch
The next Vulcan rocket is reporting for duty! The USSF-87 launch campaign is underway for Vulcan's second U.S. national security mission. The Vulcan VC4S will deploy this mission directly to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) using the high-performance Centaur V upper stage. http://bit.ly/vulcan_ussf87

[zandr]

https://x.com/GewoonLukas_/status/2006406938246930718

Lukas C. H.  @GewoonLukas_
Well that's some great news to end the year on! ULA has started stacking the next Vulcan rocket for their next NSSL mission! This will be USSF-87, which will deploy the GSSAP 7 & 8 satellites (and potentially other payloads as well) directly into GEO.

Возможны попутчики на ГСО (?)

[zandr]

https://x.com/ulalaunch/status/2008901868844642771

ULA  @ulalaunch
The launch of a ULA Vulcan rocket carrying the U.S. Space Force (USSF)-87 mission for the United States Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) is targeting Monday, Feb. 2, from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, pending range approval.

·
This is the second national security space launch aboard the certified Vulcan rocket. The Vulcan rocket will deploy the multi-manifested USSF-87 mission directly to geosynchronous (GEO) orbit using the high-performance Centaur V upperstage.
·
ULA continues to be a steadfast partner to the Space Force, fulfilling the rigorous, unique requirements needed to launch tremendous capabilities into space for national defense and the protection of our nation's allies around the world.

[zandr]

https://x.com/ulalaunch/status/2010713423055593720

ULA  @ulalaunch
The USSF-87 launch campaign underway at Cape Canaveral is the first Vulcan to use the more-efficient Offsite Vertical Integration (OVI) process to pre-assemble the interstage with Centaur V. This procedure, which originated on the Atlas V program to reduce the number of days spent processing a rocket, will streamline Vulcan operations and help quicken the pace to prepare the next-generation rocket for flight.

Follow mission progress: http://bit.ly/vulcan_ussf87
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCFgay