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USSF-106 (NTS-3 & Others)
Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
00:56:00
Wednesday August 13, 2025
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NASASpaceflight.com
Mission Details
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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-571
USA-571 was cataloged 5 months after launch, and was deployed from USA-554.
Operator: United States Space Force
Geosynchronous Orbit
1 Payload
USA-554
USSF-106 also launched a classified payload for the United States Space Force identified as USA-554 by the US government. The payload is suspected to be ESPA-based.
Operator: United States Space Force
Geosynchronous Orbit
1 Payload
Rocket
Agency
ULARocket
Diameter: 5.4m
Height: 61.6m
Payload to Orbit
LEO: 24,600 kg
GTO: 11,693 kg
Liftoff Thrust
13,300 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 5.4m
Height: 15.5m
Stages
2
Strap-ons
4
Launch Site
NE
SE
Launching
East
Stats
Vulcan Centaur
3rd
Mission
1st
Mission of 2025
United Launch Alliance
166th
Mission
3rd
Mission of 2025
2025
177th
Orbital launch attempt