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

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

00:56:00

Wednesday August 13, 2025

Watch Replay

NASASpaceflight.com

Mission Details

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Track Payloads

Launch Notes

First Vulcan rocket to support a NSSL mission.

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

Geosynchronous Orbit

1 Payload

1,250 kilograms

USA-554

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

Geosynchronous Orbit

1 Payload

Rocket

Active
Vulcan VC4S

Active Since 2025

United Launch Alliance logo

Agency

ULA

Rocket

Diameter: 5.4m

Height: 61.6m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 24,600 kg

GTO: 11,693 kg

Liftoff Thrust

13,006 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 5.4m

Height: 15.5m

Stages

2

Strap-ons

4

Launch Site

General Trajectory

NE

SE

Launching

East

SLC-41

Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Fastest Turnaround

15 days 22 hours

Stats

Vulcan Centaur


3rd

Mission

1st

Mission of 2025

United Launch Alliance


166th

Mission

3rd

Mission of 2025

2025


177th

Orbital launch attempt