Vulcan VC4S | USSF-106 (NTS-3 & USA-554)

Status

Success

USSF-106 (NTS-3 & USA-554)

Launch Time
Wed Aug 13, 2025 00:56 UTC

First Vulcan rocket to support a NSSL mission.

Watch | Article

Rocket

Vulcan VC4S

Image Credit: ULA

ULA

Status: Active

Liftoff Thrust: 13,006 kN

Payload to LEO: 24,600 kg

Payload to GTO: 11,693 kg

Stages: 2

Strap-ons: 4

Rocket Height: 61.6 m

Fairing Diameter: 5.4 m

Fairing Height: 15.5 m

Details

Mission Details

Track Payloads

NTS-3

NTS-3 (Navigation Technology Satellite 3) is a demonstration navigation satellite. NTS-3 will experiment with a new digital signal generator that can be reprogrammed on-orbit, enabling it to broadcast new signals, improve performance by avoiding and defeating interference, and adding signatures for detecting spoofing attacks.

NTS-3 will be the aft payload on the USSF-106 mission.

Manufacturer: L3Harris

Operator: Air Force Research Laboratory

Payloads: 1

Total Mass: 1,250.0 kg

Geosynchronous Orbit

USA-554

USSF-106 also launched a classified payload for the United States Space Force identified as USA-554 by the US government.

Payloads: 1

Geosynchronous Orbit

Location

SLC-41, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Wiki

Stats

2025

177th orbital launch attempt

United Launch Alliance

166th mission

3rd mission of 2025

165th successful mission

161st consecutive successful mission

Vulcan Centaur

3rd mission

1st mission of 2025

3rd successful mission