USSF-87: GSSAP 7, GSSAP 8, ESPA – Vulcan VC4S – Cape Canaveral SLC-41 – 12.02.2026 09:22 UTC

[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

[zandr]

ULA  @ulalaunch
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket carrying the U.S. Space Force (USSF)-87 mission for the United States Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) is delayed to no earlier than (NET) Thursday, Feb. 12, from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, pending range approval. The team is continuing processing and working around weather and constraints prior to launch.
http://bit.ly/vulcan_ussf87

Отложен на 12 февраля.

[Demir_Binici]

Запуск планировали на третий квартал 2023 года.

[zandr]

Запуск планировали на третий квартал 2023 года.

(Не открылось.)
РН или ПН?

[Demir_Binici]

Запуск планировали на третий квартал 2023 года.

(Не открылось.)
РН или ПН?

С чьей-то вас стороны не пускают 
Со всех сторон Интернет портят.

Contracts For Mar. 9, 2021
AIR FORCE

United Launch Services LLC, Centennial, Colorado, has been awarded $224,290,000 in firm-fixed-price task orders under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract.  These task orders provide the basic launch services and mission integration for USSF-112 and USSF-87.  Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado; and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.  Fiscal 2021 space procurement funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award.  The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-21-F-0011 and FA8811-21-F-0012).

Спойлер

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded two individual firm-fixed-price task orders totaling $159,721,445 under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract.  These task orders provide the basic launch services and mission integration for USSF-36 and NROL-69.  Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2021 missile and space procurement funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award.  The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-21-F-0009 and FA8811-21-F-0010).

[свернуть]

[zandr]

Вот! Теперь понятно.

А "the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023" разве в третьем квартале календарного заканчивается?

[Demir_Binici]

Вот! Теперь понятно.

А "the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023" разве в третьем квартале календарного заканчивается?

1 октября у них начало FY

[zandr]

https://x.com/GewoonLukas_/status/2018777894240031209

Lukas C. H.  @GewoonLukas_
ULA is currently rolling out the fairing for USSF-87 to SLC-41 for stacking atop Vulcan! Inside should be 2 GSSAP satellites, as well as an ESPA-ring with smaller payloads. Launch is scheduled for NET Feb. 12, with lift-off reportedly around 08:00 UTC.

 http://nsf.live/spacecoast

[zandr]

https://x.com/TLPN_Official/status/2018812263789134030

The Launch Pad  @TLPN_Official
This afternoon the United Launch Alliance rolled out the USSF-87 payload fairing for stacking on Vulcan Centaur at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of launch later this month.
Launch NET: February 12, 2026
The fairing is expected to be housing two GSSAP (Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program) satellites, along with additional payloads.
 
Zac (@Astro_Aubert) for @TLPN_Official

[zandr]

https://blog.ulalaunch.com/blog/ussf-87-vulcan-rocket-to-set-new-performance-and-endurance-records

USSF-87: Vulcan rocket to set new performance and endurance records
^{February 4, 2026}

The USSF-87 payload is hoisted atop Vulcan at VIF-G. Photo by United Launch Alliance

Space is the new battlefield high ground, and the upcoming United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket flight will help to protect U.S. national security orbital assets by launching a "neighborhood watch" surveillance system directly into geosynchronous orbit.

The USSF-87 multi-manifested mission for the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command will launch aboard a Vulcan VC4S rocket on Feb. 12 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. 

The rocket will use four side-mounted solid rocket boosters (SRBs) and a dual-engine Centaur V upper stage to deliver the heavy payload more than 22,000 miles (35,000 km) above the Earth. Vulcan's versatility and purpose-built, high-energy rocket architecture is designed to meet all of the demanding national security requirements of our nation's space launch needs. 

The encapsulated payload is transported to VIF-G. Photo by United Launch Alliance

Launching atop the rocket, as the forward spacecraft, is the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) spacecraft built by Northrop Grumman, launching to GEO with an ascending node injection to improve our ability to rapidly detect, warn, characterize and attribute disturbances to space systems in the geosynchronous environment. The Aft SV, provided by Northrop Grumman, is a propulsed ESPA flying multiple payloads launching into a direct inject GEO orbit.
USSF-87 is the heaviest payload yet carried by Vulcan and ULA's next-generation rocket's longest launch to date, almost 10 hours from liftoff until end-of-mission.
...

[zandr]

https://x.com/ulalaunch/status/2020881522379690244

ULA  @ulalaunch
Teammates representing United Launch Alliance and U.S. Space Force gathered for the USSF-87 Launch Readiness Review and declared the Vulcan rocket, its payload and mission-support assets GO for liftoff Thursday at 3:30 a.m. EST (0830 UTC). Meteorologists give  a 90 percent chance of favorable weather for the launch from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral. 
http://bit.ly/vulcan_ussf87

[zandr]

Lukas C. H.  @GewoonLukas_
Due to Crew-12 delaying by 24 hours, ULA's Vulcan (USSF-87) and SpaceX' Falcon 9 (Crew-12) are now set to launch within 2 hours of each other from neighboring pads 2.5km apart. If Crew-12 proceeds, I doubt USSF-87 can launch due to Dragon closeouts right around Vulcan's T-0.
·
In today's Crew-12 briefing, NASA's Steve Stich (Manager CCP) said that Crew-12 has priority on the range, but that they'll work with ULA to optimize the schedule. If Crew-12 has to delay, ULA can proceed with the USSF-87 launch, but if Crew-12 launches ULA has to delay.

Возможен перенос.

[zandr]

Перенесли запуск Falcon 9.
Vulcan - в графике.

[zandr]

https://x.com/ulalaunch/status/2021010237772214553

ULA  @ulalaunch
What does three million pounds of liftoff thrust look like? You will see it Thursday when ULA's Vulcan rocket lifts off on the power of its twin methane main engines and four side-mounted solid rocket boosters.

Launch time is 3:30 a.m. EST (0830 UTC) from Cape Canaveral. The rocket will take an easterly trajectory, en route to a geosynchronous orbit 22,000 miles high.

You can watch the launch and follow the mission here: http://bit.ly/vulcan_ussf87

[zandr]

https://x.com/ulalaunch/status/2021260911957135533

ULA  @ulalaunch
Rollout is underway of the United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket to send USSF-87 to geosynchronous orbit on Thursday at 3:30 a.m. EST (0830 UTC). http://bit.ly/vulcan_ussf87
<видео>

[zandr]

https://x.com/ulalaunch/status/2021345113432068105

ULA  @ulalaunch
The Vulcan rocket travels to the launch pad with USSF-87 payload. Liftoff is planned for Thursday morning from Cape Canaveral.
Photo album: https://flic.kr/ps/3ju3XB