ULA launches the final Atlas V national security mission on July 30. Photo: ULA

United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched the USSF-51 national security mission for the U.S. Space Force on Tuesday — marking the final national security mission on an Atlas V rocket as ULA transitions to the Vulcan rocket. 

The Atlas V rocket first launched in March of 2007 and has launched 53 National Security Space (NSS) missions. The Atlas family of rockets originated in the 1950s as the United States’ first intercontinental ballistic missile. 

The July 30 Atlas V mission lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:45 a.m. EDT. ULA and Space Systems Command confirmed after launch that the classified payload was deployed to the correct orbit. This was also ULA’s 100th national security mission.  

While this is the last Atlas V national security mission, the rocket still has 15 launches left including launches for the Boeing Starliner capsule to the ISS, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and a ViaSat-3 satellite for satellite operator Viasat.

USSF Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel leader for SSC’s Launch Execution Delta, called Atlas V the “workhorse” for national security space launch. 

 “As we wrap our last Atlas V NSSL mission, over 20 years, you remember the stats and the incredible capability we put into orbit, but also your teammates who put in the hard work, the attention to detail, the great care and follow-up,” Horne said. 

ULA is now preparing to launch future National Security Space (NSS) missions on the Vulcan rocket, which debuted in January. The second certification flight for Vulcan is set for September. ULA plans that Vulcan will launch two NSS missions this year, USSF-106 and USSF-87. 

“The Atlas family of rockets has played a pivotal role in the advancement of national security and space superiority since the 1950s,” said Tory Bruno, ULA’s president and CEO. “Although today marks the final liftoff of a National Security Space mission aboard an Atlas rocket, we look forward to extending a legacy of outstanding teamwork and collaboration with the U.S. Space Force as we launch future missions for our national security partners aboard the Vulcan rocket.”

Space Systems Command recently awarded ULA and SpaceX new missions under Phase 2 of National Security Space Launch (NSSL). ULA received about $1.1 billion for Phase 2 launches through fiscal 2027 to bring the total awarded to ULA for Phase 2 since 2020 to $4.5 billion.

Blue Origin will compete against ULA and SpaceX in the upcoming Phase 3 NSSL contracts with the New Glenn rocket.