Vulcan Centaur Launches Crucial Space Surveillance Satellites for U.S. Military
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket successfully deployed a pair of advanced space surveillance satellites for the U.S. military early Thursday morning, February 12th, marking a significant step in bolstering the nation’s space situational awareness capabilities. The launch, designated USSF-87, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 4:22 a.m. EST (0922 GMT).
Enhancing Space Domain Awareness with GSSAP
The primary payloads of the USSF-87 mission are two satellites belonging to the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP), a critical U.S. reconnaissance system. These satellites are designed to monitor activity in geostationary orbit (GEO), a region increasingly crowded with vital infrastructure. Six GSSAP spacecraft are now operational, with previous launches occurring in July 2014, August 2016, and January 2022.
GEO, located approximately 22,236 miles (35,785 kilometers) above Earth, is a prime location for weather, reconnaissance, and communications satellites due to its unique orbital characteristics. At this altitude, a satellite’s orbital speed matches Earth’s rotation, allowing it to remain positioned over a specific location.
‘Neighborhood Watch’ for the Heavens
According to Space Force officials, the GSSAP spacecraft function as a “high-performance, dedicated Space Surveillance Network sensor.” They provide essential “neighborhood watch” services in the GEO arena, improving flight safety for all nations operating in that orbit. Enhanced data regarding satellite positioning and activity will dramatically accelerate the ability of U.S. Space Force operators to warn of potential close approaches or hazardous situations.
“Data from the GSSAP will uniquely contribute to timely and accurate orbital predictions, enhancing our knowledge of the GEO environment and further enabling spaceflight safety, including satellite collision avoidance,” officials stated. The mission also includes research and development payloads aimed at refining orbital maneuvers and strengthening the resilience of U.S. assets in GEO.
Vulcan Centaur: A New Era of Space Launch
USSF-87 represents the fourth mission for the Vulcan Centaur rocket, ULA’s next-generation launch vehicle designed to replace the reliable Atlas V. The rocket debuted in January 2024 with the launch of Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander, though the lander experienced an anomaly shortly after deployment.
Subsequent successful flights followed in October 2024 and August 2025, with the latter marking Vulcan Centaur’s first national security mission – the deployment of an experimental navigation satellite. USSF-87 utilized the most powerful variant of the Vulcan Centaur to date, the VC4S, featuring four solid rocket boosters (SRBs). The Vulcan Centaur is capable of accommodating up to six SRBs.
Certification and Future Missions
Following a successful recovery from the initial Peregrine anomaly, ULA secured certification from the U.S. Space Force for national security launches, joining SpaceX as one of only two providers authorized to launch military and spy satellites. ULA reports that Vulcan Centaur has already been contracted for over two dozen additional national security missions on behalf of the Space Force, with launch capabilities from both Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
