ULA USSF-8 Atlas V 511
Rocket Launch Video Streams
Weather Forecast During Launch
According to weather officials, there's a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch.
Rocket Launch Trajectory & Flight Path
Track the complete rocket launch trajectory with real-time flight data from FlightClub.io (opens in a new tab). View detailed telemetry including rocket velocity, altitude progression, thrust levels, acceleration, orbital insertion parameters, and 3D flight path visualization throughout all mission phases from liftoff to orbit.
Learn about rocket launch trajectory physics (opens in a new tab)
About the USSF-8 Mission
| Type | Government/Top Secret |
|---|---|
| Orbit | Geosynchronous Orbit |
| Launch Cost | $130,000,000 |
USSF-8 will launch two identical Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites GSSAP-5 and GSSAP-6 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.
Unique to this mission is the first and only planned flight of the Atlas V 511 configuration.
Launch Pad & Location
Space Launch Complex 41
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
| Launches | 125 |
|---|---|
| Orbital Launch Attempts | 125 |
| Total Launches | 1130 |
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) is an installation of the United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45, located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida.
ULA Atlas V 511 Rocket
Atlas V is an expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. It was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin and is now operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with Boeing. Each Atlas V rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage. The RD-180 engines are provided by RD Amross, while Aerojet Rocketdyne provides both the RL10 engines and the strap-on boosters used in some configurations. The 511 version uses a 5m wide fairing, 1 solid rocket booster and one engine on the Centaur stage.
| Length | 58.3 m |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 3.8 m |
| Stages | 2 |
| Launch Mass | 590.0 T |
| Takeoff Thrust | 5,490.0 kN |
| LEO Capacity | 10,986 kg |
| GTO Capacity | 5,250 kg |
| Launch Cost | $130,000,000 |
| Maiden Flight | 1/21/2022 |
About ULA
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.
| Total Launches | 175 |
|---|---|
| Successful | 175 |
| Pending | 73 |
| Consecutive Success | 175 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the ULA Atlas V 511 USSF-8 launch scheduled?
The ULA Atlas V 511 USSF-8 launch was scheduled for:
.
Where can I watch the ULA Atlas V 511 USSF-8 launch video?
You can watch the ULA Atlas V 511 launch video on this page. The official video includes full mission coverage with multiple camera angles, onboard views, and expert commentary covering pre-launch procedures, liftoff, stage separation, and payload deployment.
Where did the ULA Atlas V 511 USSF-8 mission launch from?
The ULA Atlas V 511 rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) is an installation of the United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45, located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida.
What rocket was used for the USSF-8 mission?
The USSF-8 mission launched aboard a ULA Atlas V 511 rocket. Atlas V is an expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. It was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin and is now operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with Boeing. Each Atlas V rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage. The RD-180 engines are provided by RD Amross, while Aerojet Rocketdyne provides both the RL10 engines and the strap-on boosters used in some configurations. The 511 version uses a 5m wide fairing, 1 solid rocket booster and one engine on the Centaur stage. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
What weather conditions could have delayed the ULA Atlas V 511 USSF-8 launch?
The ULA Atlas V 511 USSF-8 launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the ULA Atlas V 511 USSF-8 launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest ULA Atlas V 511 launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the USSF-8 mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official ULA live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.
Last Updated
Last Updated:
-
Launch successful
-
Updating weather
-
Updating weather
-
T-0 confirmed by ULA
-
Weather 70%
-
Updating T-0
-
New launch window.
-
Weather 60%
-
Added launch window per marine space closure notices.