Prior to the most commonly known by Delta Operations Center, now Vulcan Operations Center, all offline Titan Centaur processing and integration was performed beginning with TIII-E in Titan ITL VIB Cell 3. Shuttle Centaur likely also used the facility due to processing commonality during its R&D testing phase at the Cape/KSC ahead of the Shuttle Centaur flights that never flew.
The Vulcan OVI stack looks cleaner than the Atlas equivalent. I suppose that's due to increased Centaur V diameter and lack of need for a forward load reactor mechanism?
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 01/12/2026 10:05 pmPrior to the most commonly known by Delta Operations Center, now Vulcan Operations Center, all offline Titan Centaur processing and integration was performed beginning with TIII-E in Titan ITL VIB Cell 3. Shuttle Centaur likely also used the facility due to processing commonality during its R&D testing phase at the Cape/KSC ahead of the Shuttle Centaur flights that never flew. Shuttle Centaur was canceled before the CPF was conceived.
There were one or two Shuttle Centaurs in processing at the Cape and KSC during 1985-86 before the program was cancelled. I think that much of the work went on at the Cape in Atlas-Centaur facilities (including one of the LC 36 pads that had been taken out of Atlas-Centaur service). One of the Shuttle Centaurs (a Centaur G-Prime) ended up in the Vertical Processing Facility at KSC for some interface testing for a time. Two were supposed to fly during the summer of 1986.
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket carrying the U.S. Space Force (USSF)-87 mission for the United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) is delayed to no earlier than (NET) Thursday, Feb. 12, from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, pending range approval. The team is continuing processing and working around weather and constraints prior to launch.http://bit.ly/vulcan_ussf87
ULA@ulalaunch·57sUnited Launch Alliance is now in final preparations for our next Vulcan launch with attachment of the USSF-87 payload to the rocket. The launch, planned for Feb. 12, could not be more critical. With space being the new battlefield high ground, ULA will help to protect U.S. national security orbital assets by launching a "neighborhood watch" surveillance system directly into geosynchronous orbit. USSF-87 will also set new Vulcan performance and endurance records during this launch. Learn more in our blog: https://blog.ulalaunch.com/blog/ussf-87-vulcan-rocket-to-set-new-performance-and-endurance-records Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCFgayLaunch info: http://bit.ly/vulcan_ussf87
[...]A SYD 80 spokesperson described the secondary payloads on the mission as “research, development, and training systems that USSF Guardians are using to refine tactics, techniques and procedures for precision on-orbit maneuvers.”“They will also enhance and validate resiliency and protection in geosynchronous orbit,” a SYD 80 spokesperson said.[...]
ULA@ulalaunch·2mULA's Vulcan rocket is generating three million pounds of thrust as it soars to geosynchronous orbit on the U.S. Space Force's USSF-87 mission, continuing ULA's legacy of serving our national security interests in space. Learn more about the launch, planned for Feb. 12, in this preview. Also available on YouTube: https://youtube.com/watch?v=0njqgAJqorE
Teammates representing United Launch Alliance and U.S. Space Force gathered for the USSF-87 Launch Readiness Review and declared the Vulcan rocket, its payload and mission-support assets GO for liftoff Thursday at 3:30 a.m. EST (0830 UTC). Meteorologists give a 90 percent chance of favorable weather for the launch from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral. http://bit.ly/vulcan_ussf87
Launch Date and Window: Thursday, Feb. 12, 3:30-5:30 a.m. EST (0830-1030 UTC)
Issue Date UTC: 02/09/2026 1946Start Date UTC: 02/12/2026 0800End Date UTC: 02/18/2026 1250A0160/26 NOTAMNQ) TTZP/QPFXX/IV/NBO/E/000/999/1450N05112W999A) TTZPB) 2602120800 C) 2602181250D) 0800 - 1250E) THE FOLLOWING AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT PLAN WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO MANAGE AIR TRAFFIC DUE TO THE DEBRIS RESPONSE AREA DEFINED AS A RESULT OF ULA USSF-87 ROCKET LAUNCH:1) MINUTES-IN-TRAIL: 20 MINUTES-IN-TRAIL WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FOR SAME LEVEL AIRCRAFT EAST OF 56W FOR AIRCRAFT FILED TO ROUTE THROUGH THE DEBRIS RESPONSE AREA.2) AIRBORNE HOLDING DUE TO ACTIVATION OF DEBRIS RESPONSE AREA: IN THE EVENT OF A RAPID UNCONTROLLED DISASSEMBLY, THE DEBRIS AREA RESPONSE WILL BECOME AN ACTIVE DANGER AREA BOUNDED BY THE COORDINATES:180419N0464912W - 180000N0450000W - 205634N0413739W - 195239N0385006W - 170000N373000W - 142621N0373000W - 180419N0464912W.A) HOLDING AREA A (EASTBOUND FLIGHTS) - STANDARD HOLD AT 1600N04600W ALL TURNS TO THE RIGHT.B) HOLDING AREA B (EASTBOUND FLIGHTS) - STANDARD HOLD AT 1500N04200W ALL TURNS TO THE RIGHT.C) ANY OTHER HOLDING AREA AS DESIGNATED BY ATC.AIRCRAFT OPERATORS ARE TO CONSIDER THESE FLOW CONTROL MEASURES WHEN FLIGHT PLANNING.F) SFC G) UNL
Rollout is underway of the United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket to send USSF-87 to geosynchronous orbit on Thursday at 3:30 a.m. EST (0830 UTC). http://bit.ly/vulcan_ussf87
During today's Crew-12 briefing, NASA's Steve Stich said that Crew-12 has priority on the range, and that ULA has to delay if Crew-12 proceeds with a launch attempt on February 12th. If Crew-12 delays, ULA can launch USSF-87 on the 12th.
Crew-12 now scheduled to launch at 5:15 a.m. on Friday, February 13.
United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket is on the launch pad for the USSF-87 mission that will place U.S. national security spacecraft into geosynchronous orbit. It will be our next-generation rocket's heaviest payload yet and the longest flight to date, lasting 10 hours. Liftoff is scheduled for Thursday at 3:30 a.m. EST (0830 UTC) from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral. Weather forecasters give a 95% chance of GO conditions. Our play-by-play status journal begins at 10 p.m. EST (0300 UTC) and the live webcast starts 20 minutes before liftoff. http://bit.ly/vulcan_ussf87
