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July 30, 2024
ULA Atlas V 551 USSF-51

Launched: 6:45 AM EDT
Launch site: Space Launch Complex (SLC) 41, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Payload: Govt - Top Secret Classified Payload

PHOTOS
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VIDEOS

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Final military launch of Atlas 5 rocket
Geostationary Earth orbit

USSF-51 will be the last national security launch for the Atlas 5 as ULA prepares to complete Vulcan’s certification for Space Force missions.
ULA’s 100th national security launch and the Atlas 5’s 53rd.
Originally, USSF-51 was slated to fly on Vulcan as part of the Phase 2 contract but the mission was reassigned to the proven Atlas 5.
USSF-51 also represents the first ULA launch under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 contract, awarded by the Space Force to ULA and SpaceX in 2020. While SpaceX launched its first Phase 2 mission in January 2023, ULA's schedule has been disrupted by development issues with its next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket.

The Vulcan Centaur, designed to replace both the Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets, promises increased performance and flexibility for a wide range of missions.
Its development encountered setbacks, pushing its debut launch to January 2024 and delaying its certification for national security missions.
ULA has plans for an additional 16 commercial and non-defense missions, including crewed launches, utilizing the remaining Atlas rockets in its inventory.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006