ULA Vulcan Rocket Survives Booster Anomaly, Delivers Secret Space Force Payloads
A United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket roared off the pad at Cape Canaveral, defying early in-flight trouble to successfully deliver a suite of U.S. Space Force satellites into orbit. The mission, known as USSF-87, carried high-value surveillance and experimental payloads into geosynchronous orbit, roughly 22,300 miles above Earth, where satellites appear to hover over a fixed point.
Liftoff occurred at 4:22 a.m. Eastern, with four solid-fuel strap-on boosters and twin methane-burning engines producing nearly three million pounds of thrust. Just 20 seconds into the flight, one of the boosters experienced what appears to have been a burn-through at its nozzle, producing a jet of flame off to one side. Cameras also recorded the rocket beginning to roll along its axis. For a tense few moments, the outcome was uncertain. But after the boosters separated as planned, the roll stabilized and the Vulcan’s main stages performed normally, ultimately placing its payloads in their intended orbits.
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This mission marks Vulcan’s fourth flight and its second carrying national security payloads. The rocket was designed specifically for these complex, long-duration missions, capable of delivering multiple spacecraft directly to geosynchronous orbit. Thursday’s flight was set to last roughly ten hours, the longest mission yet for the new launch vehicle. The primary payload was a Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program, or GSSAP, satellite. These high-performance spacecraft are critical to monitoring the behavior of other satellites in orbit, helping the U.S. Space Force maintain awareness and operational security in a crowded geostationary belt.
In addition to the GSSAP payload, Vulcan carried a suite of classified experimental systems on Northrop Grumman’s ESPAStar platform. These smaller satellites will allow the Space Force to test tactics, refine orbital maneuvers and evaluate resiliency and protection measures in geosynchronous space. The number and specific capabilities of these payloads remain undisclosed, highlighting the sensitive nature of the mission.
United Launch Alliance is now reviewing the data from the booster anomaly. Officials say they will investigate the root cause and implement corrective measures before the next Vulcan flight. Despite the scare, the mission’s success underscores the reliability of the Vulcan design and its ability to carry the United States’ most critical national security satellites safely into orbit.
As space becomes increasingly vital for defense, communications and surveillance, every successful launch represents not just a technical achievement, but a strategic advantage. Keep following this channel for live updates, mission analyses and the latest developments as the Vulcan rocket continues to shape the future of U.S. space operations.
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