The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is the space service branch of the U.S. Department of Defense, established in December 2019. Its primary role is to organize, train, and equip space forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space by ensuring space superiority. The USSF manages space launch operations, satellite operations, space environment surveillance, and satellite defense, and partners with organizations like NASA on space domain awareness and planetary defense. Key areas of focus include missile warning, satellite communications, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The telemetry shown in the visualization is taken close to BECO for both the USSF-87 and USSF-106 Vulcan VC4 launches.
Two solid rocket booster (SRB) nozzle incidents occurred on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, one during the USSF-87 mission and one during the Cert-2 launch.
The NSSL launch of USSF-87 on February 12, 2026 was successful.
The U.S. Space Force has adopted a philosophy in which satellite maneuverability is treated as a form of defense.
United Launch Alliance launched a Vulcan rocket on the USSF-87 mission on February 12, 2026.
The NSSL launch of USSF-87 delivered the GSSAP payload to support U.S. Space Command’s space surveillance operations and enhance space domain awareness.
The delivery of GSSAP on USSF-87 strengthens U.S. national security.
One solid rocket booster on the Vulcan USSF-87 launch appeared to suffer an anomaly similar to the Cert-2 anomaly in October 2024.
USSF-87 is a national security spacecraft that includes a "neighborhood watch" mission to patrol the strategic high ground of space.
United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket delivered USSF-87 to geosynchronous orbit.
Roughly 20 seconds after liftoff on the USSF-87 mission, at least one of the Vulcan rocket's solid rocket booster nozzles showed signs of a possible burn-through.
The USSF-87 mission included research and training systems intended to help U.S. Space Force Guardians prepare and practice for potential conflict in orbit.
United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket lifted off on the USSF-87 mission.
United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket is on the launch pad for the USSF-87 mission that will place U.S. national security spacecraft into geosynchronous orbit.
Liftoff for the USSF-87 Vulcan mission is scheduled for Thursday at 3:30 a.m. EST (0830 UTC) from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral.
United Launch Alliance is planning a rapid cadence of Vulcan launches following USSF-87.
Starfish Space secured a $52.5 million contract with the Space Force.
The next Vulcan missions after USSF-87 are GPS III SV10, USSF-57, T1TR-B, and NROL-64, all scheduled in the first half of the year.
Weather forecasters give a 95% chance of GO conditions for the USSF-87 Vulcan liftoff.
Industry analysts expect the U.S. Space Force and European defense ministries to increase investment in Hybrid Space Architectures during the remainder of 2026.