The news of the US space defense is that the Vulcan rocket, which has been waiting for a long time, is finally coming onto the scene not just as a technical miracle, but as a real player in national defense. On August 12, it is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral from the US Space Force base — and this will no longer be a test, but the first combat mission to ensure national security, so to speak, the "debut in outer space."
The rocket is being made by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint brainchild of Lockheed Martin and Boeing. And if ULA used to fly on Atlases and Deltas, now it is moving to a new level: Vulcan is their most modern carrier, and now for the first time it is working in the NSSL (National Security Space Launch) program, that is, in the very elite list where only the most reliable are allowed.
A secret satellite, NTS—3 (Navigation Technology Satellite-3), will fly into geostationary orbit. This is not just another device, but an experimental navigation satellite that can seriously modernize GPS in the future. Imagine: more accurate coordinates, resistance to interference, jamming protection — all this can enter a new generation of global navigation.
The cost of the mission is about $250 million, and this is not just a launch, but a major military experiment. If all goes well, Vulcan will establish itself as the main carrier for US military and reconnaissance satellites, along with SpaceX rockets.
So August 12th is not just a date on the calendar. This is the moment when the new missile proves that it is ready to carry the most important thing: the security of the country. And if it takes off, it means that the space race will get a new serious player.
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