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.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 24 of Amazon's Project Kuiper internet spacecraft from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Aug. 11, at 1235 UTC. The first-stage booster(B1091), which was a converted Falcon Heavy core stage, returned to Earth approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff, landing safely on the droneship 'A Shortfall of Gravitas' in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Falcon 9's upper stage placed the 24 Kuiper satellites into an initial parking orbit about an hour after launch. The satellites were deployed over a 7.5-minute period beginning approximately 56 minutes after liftoff. The satellites will use onboard electric propulsion to raise their orbits to the operational altitude of 630 kilometers.

KF-02 mission was part of Amazon's effort to build a constellation of 3,232 satellites to compete with SpaceX's Starlink network. Amazon has booked over 80 launches for the project, initially relying on United Launch Alliance (ULA), Arianespace, and Blue Origin, but turned to SpaceX for additional capacity due to launch schedule constraints.

The majority of SpaceX’s 2025 Falcon 9 launches—over 70%—have focused on expanding Starlink, the company’s megaconstellation that now includes more than 8,100 operational satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Starlink continues to grow rapidly, providing global broadband coverage, while Amazon’s Project Kuiper, with only four launches so far, is in its early stages with 102 satellites deployed after this mission.

Monday's launch was the fifth scheduled attempt for the mission, designated KF-02, following previous delays -- on August 9 due to poor weather at the launch site and on August 10 due to unfavorable recovery conditions.

This launch was also the 97th Falcon 9 mission of the year, with the other three missions being suborbital test flights of SpaceX’s Starship, a reusable vehicle designed for Mars colonization.

Following Monday's flight, this Falcon 9 booster, B1091 is expected to be reconfigured and flown as a Falcon Heavy center booster.

Paramount Global has secured a landmark seven-year, $7.7 billion exclusive U.S. media rights deal for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), effective from 2026, marking the end of the UFC's pay-per-view model and its current agreement with ESPN.

The deal, announced Monday, makes Paramount+ the exclusive streaming home for all 13 marquee numbered UFC events and 30 Fight Nights annually, with select events also airing on CBS. This move follows Paramount's recent acquisition by Skydance Media, with the new leadership under CEO David Ellison seeing the UFC as a "unicorn sports asset" and a cornerstone for growth.

UFC President Dana White announced the deal on social media, calling it a "huge win" and stating, "This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes. For the first time ever, fans in the US will have access to all UFC content without a Pay-Per-View model, making it more affordable and accessible to view the greatest fights on a massive platform."

Paramount Global, under new CEO David Ellison, emphasized the strategic importance of the deal, stating, "We think it is going to be incredibly material in terms of increasing our engagement on Paramount+, driving subscriber acquisitions and also meaningfully growing revenue across the business." Ellison also described the UFC as a "global sports powerhouse" and a "unicorn asset."

The deal replaces a five-year agreement with ESPN, which was valued at approximately $500 million annually and ended at the close of 2025. The new agreement, averaging $1.1 billion per year, is weighted toward the later years of the seven-year term.

Negotiations accelerated significantly after the Skydance-Paramount merger was finalized, with the final deal reportedly negotiated in just 48 hours. TKO Group, the parent company of UFC, initially considered splitting the rights but ultimately secured the full package with Paramount. The deal also opens the possibility for Paramount to pursue UFC rights in international markets as they become available.