A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket launched the USSF-106 mission carrying an experimental navigation satellite for the United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on August 13, at 0056 UTC.  This mission marked the first National Security Space Launch (NSSL) aboard the Vulcan rocket.

USSF-106 was the first certified national security mission for the Vulcan rocket, designated as the 101st national security mission for ULA, and the first flight of the Vulcan Centaur VC4S configuration for the U.S. Space Force.

The Vulcan Centaur rocket stood 62 meter tall and weighed 789, 250 kilograms(kg) powered by two methane-fueled BE-4 engines and four GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters, generating nearly 1,369777 kg of thrust at liftoff.

The mission carried an experimental navigation satellite into geosynchronous orbit (GEO), about 35,000 kilometers(km) above Earth, using the high-energy Centaur V upper stage, which provided direct injection to GEO. Vulcan launched with four side-mounted solid rocket boosters(SRB) in order to generate enough thrust to send its payload directly into GEO on one of ULA's longest flights ever, a seven-hour journey that will span over according to ULA.

The payload, known as Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3), is the U.S. military’s first experimental navigation satellite launched in 48 years. Developed by L3Harris Technologies with a satellite bus from Northrop Grumman, NTS-3 is a position, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite designed to provide data similar to GPS. Its primary mission is to test advanced technologies aimed at enhancing resilience against jamming and spoofing, which are growing concerns for both military and commercial satellite operations.

A key feature of NTS-3 is its phased array antenna, which enables the satellite to focus powerful beams to ground forces and counter jamming environments effectively. According to Andrew Builta of L3Harris, this capability is critical for addressing the increasing threat of GPS jamming. The satellite’s design also includes a software architecture that allows it to be reprogrammed while in orbit, a groundbreaking feature that Builta described as “game-changing” for its adaptability and operational flexibility.

The satellite’s experimental technologies could pave the way for more robust and secure navigation systems, addressing modern challenges in contested environments.

The Vulcan Centaur rocket's inaugural flight in January 2024 launched Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander, though the lander failed due to an unrelated anomaly.

The second flight in October 2024 carried a mass simulator for Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser, as the space plane was not ready. That flight experienced a minor anomaly 39 seconds after launch due to a manufacturing defect in a solid rocket booster nozzle, but the mission was still deemed successful.

Despite the anomaly in its second flight, the Vulcan Centaur was certified by the U.S. Space Force for national security launches, making ULA one of only two certified providers alongside SpaceX.

This certification underscores the rocket’s reliability for critical missions like the NTS-3 launch. ULA has already secured contracts to launch over two dozen national security missions, with the Vulcan Centaur capable of launching from both Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Europe's heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket launched the Metop-SGA1 weather and climate satellite into Sun-sychronous orbit on August 13, marking the rocket's third flight and second commercial mission. Liftoff occurred at 0037 UTC from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

This VA264 mission marked a significant step for the rocket, which serves as the successor to the retired Ariane 5. Operated by Arianespace on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA), Ariane 6 is designed to ensure Europe’s independent access to space for a variety of payloads.

"#Ariane6 has successfully lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport, carrying the #MetopSGA1 satellite into orbit for @eumetsat, carrying 6 instruments, including Copernicus #Sentinel5 for atmospheric monitoring," Ariane Space wrote on X.

Metop-SGA1, weighing 4,040 kilograms), was deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 800 kilometers above Earth, about 64 minutes after liftoff, Arianespace announced via X.

The satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space, and developed for EUMETSAT, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. Metop-SGA1 is the first of six planned satellites in the Metop Second Generation (MetOp-SG) constellation, designed to ensure the continuity and enhancement of global meteorological data from space into the mid-2040s.

Following a checkout period, Metop-SGA1 will activate its six onboard instruments including the Copernicus Sentinel-5 atmospheric monitoring mission, which will provide daily global data on air pollutants, atmospheric trace gases, aerosols, and ultraviolet radiation.

These instruments are designed to measure parameters such as temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, sea ice, aerosols, pollution, soil moisture, and volcanic dust. Metop-SGA1 is expected to operate for 7.5 years, delivering high-resolution data to improve weather forecasting and climate monitoring.

"The satellite will take global observation of weather and climate from a polar orbit to a new level, providing high-resolution observations of temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, sea ice, aerosols, pollution, soil moisture, volcanic dust and a multitude of other parameters," Arianespace representatives wrote in a mission description.

Metop-SGA1 will deliver high-resolution observations of temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, sea ice, soil moisture, volcanic dust, and other parameters, significantly enhancing weather forecasting accuracy and climate analysis compared to the previous MetOp mission 

This launch was the 355th for Arianespace and the 21st meteorological satellite the company has launched for EUMETSAT.

The Ariane 6 rocket made its debut with a test flight in July 2024, proving its core capabilities. Its second flight, in March 2025, was its first commercial mission, successfully deploying a French spy satellite into Earth orbit. The third flight, which occurred on August 13, 2025, further demonstrated the rocket’s reliability and versatility in handling critical scientific payloads.

VA264 was Arianespace’s 355th mission overall and its 15th for EUMETSAT, as well as the 21st meteorological satellite it has launched. In addition to Ariane 6, Arianespace operates the smaller Vega C rocket, maintaining a diverse portfolio to meet various launch requirements.