Question 1

What rocket is launching USSF-87?

Accepted Answer

USSF-87 is launching on the Vulcan VC4S.

Question 2

Who is launching USSF-87?

Accepted Answer

USSF-87 is being launched by United Launch Alliance, a commercial launch provider founded in 2006.

Question 3

Where is USSF-87 launching from?

Accepted Answer

USSF-87 is launching from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.

Question 4

What orbit is USSF-87 heading to?

Accepted Answer

USSF-87 is heading to Geostationary Orbit (Direct-GEO).

Question 5

Is the Vulcan VC4S reusable?

Accepted Answer

No — the Vulcan VC4S is an expendable launch vehicle.

Question 6

How many times has the Vulcan VC4S flown?

Accepted Answer

The Vulcan VC4S has launched 2 times to date, with 2 successful flights.

Question 7

What is the USSF-87 mission?

Accepted Answer

USSF-87 will launch two identical Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites GSSAP-7 and GSSAP-8 directly to a near-geosynchronous orbit approximately 36,000 km above the equator.

Data from the GSSAP will uniquely contribute to timely and accurate orbital predictions, further enabling space flight safety including satellite collision avoidance.

Question 8

Where is Cape Canaveral Space Force Station?

Accepted Answer

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station sits on Florida's Atlantic coast, on the Eastern Range run by the U.S. Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45. It is the United States' busiest launch site and has been America's gateway to orbit since the 1950s.

Question 9

Which rockets launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

SpaceX flies Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40, and United Launch Alliance flies the Vulcan Centaur (and the retiring Atlas V) from Space Launch Complex 41.

Question 10

Is Cape Canaveral the same as the Kennedy Space Center?

Accepted Answer

No. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center are separate, neighbouring sites — Kennedy is on Merritt Island just to the north. Together they make up Florida's 'Space Coast'.

Question 11

Why do rockets launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

Its pads sit on the Eastern Range, letting rockets fly east out over the Atlantic toward the equatorial and geostationary orbits most commercial and national-security payloads need, away from populated land.

Question 12

Can you watch a launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Space Coast is one of the easiest places in the world to watch a launch from public land. Popular free spots include Playalinda Beach, Space View Park in Titusville, and Jetty Park at Port Canaveral.

USSF-87

Flight Timeline

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

Space Launch Complex 41

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Frequently asked questions