Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket heads east from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Feb. 12, 2026.

The rocket was heading out on a national security mission for the Space Force. The timing of the launch — 4:22 a.m. Feb. 12 — was such that unless you planned to be up for it, you might miss it ...