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SpaceX

USSF-481

Falcon 9 Block 5

T-minus to liftoff

HOURS

MINUTES

SECONDS

Thursday October 15 2026, 23:44:00 UTC

StatusGo

Scrub riskLOW

Go95%

VehicleFalcon 9 Block 5

OrbitPolar Orbit

PadSpace Launch Complex 4E

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Acquiring satellite view…

Trajectory · hazard-aligned

1 hazard area

Space Launch Complex 4E

Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Launching

South

169° · SSE

34.632, -120.611

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Mission

A classified mission for the United States Space Force. It is possibly a batch of classified LEO satellites based on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite bus, based on locations of ascent rocket stage drop zones being fits with previous SDA Transport Layer launches.

Reusable Hardware

All boosters →

First Stage · Flight-provenB1081

active28th flight

Flights27

Landings27/27100%

Fastest turn24d 19h

Targeting ASDS · OCISLY· 574 km downrange

35d 8h since last flight

Launched Crew-7 on its first flight.

Previous flights · 27

Q's read

Weather & scrubLOW risk

Weather Go95%Wind2 m/sGusts3 m/sCloud90%Temp16°C

Limiting rule: Droneship recovery upper limit on sea state.

7.3 ≥ 6 ft significant wave height

Hazards (1)All areas →Download pack

LNM 55061space operationsOct 15, 23:44Z – Oct 22, 03:33Z
Sector San Diego, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)/Space Operations/Hazardous Warning Area/Commercial (Hazardous) Hazardous operations will be conducted for Space X, TH-2. Hazardous operation areas are bounded by the following coordinates and times: Hazard Area A: 32.01666667N, -120.05W 32.01666667N, -120W 33.36666667N, -120.2W 34.45N, -120.38333333W 34.66666667N, -120.6W 34.65N, -120.66666667W 34.33333333N, -120.65W 33.06666667N, -120.33333333W (TO BEGINNING) 152344Z OCT TO 160407Z OCT 2026---- (PRIMARY) 162335Z OCT TO 170358Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) 172326Z OCT TO 180349Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) 182317Z OCT TO 190340Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) 192308Z OCT TO 200331Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) 202259Z OCT TO 210322Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) 212250Z OCT TO 220313Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) Hazard Area B: 27.66666667N, -119.26666667W 28.68333333N, -119.88333333W 28.95N, -119.91666667W 30.75N, -119.78333333W 28.91666667N, -118.76666667W 28.65N, -118.71666667W (TO BEGINNING) 152344Z OCT TO 160427Z OCT 2026---- (PRIMARY) 162335Z OCT TO 170418Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) 172326Z OCT TO 180409Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) 182317Z OCT TO 190400Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) 192308Z OCT TO 200351Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) 202259Z OCT TO 210342Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) 212250Z OCT TO 220333Z OCT 2026---- (BACKUP DAY) Mariners are strongly advised to remain clear of these areas for the duration of operations. For more details or comments contact Space X at regulatory@spacex.com or on VHF-FM Chan. 05, 06 or 16.
Hazard card →

Launch Timeline

Countdown

T-00:38:00

GO for Prop Load

T-00:35:00

Stage 1 LOX Load

T-00:35:00

Prop Load

T-00:16:00

Stage 2 LOX Load

T-00:07:00

Engine Chill

T-00:01:00

Startup

T-00:01:00

Tank Press

T-00:00:45

GO for Launch

T-00:00:03

Ignition

In-flight

T+00:00:00

Liftoff

T+00:01:07

Max-Q

T+00:02:26

MECO

T+00:02:29

Stage 2 Separation

T+00:02:36

SES-1

T+00:03:01

Fairing Separation

T+00:06:01

Entry Burn Startup

T+00:06:24

Entry Burn Shutdown

T+00:08:00

Stage 1 Landing Burn

T+00:08:09

Stage 1 Landing

Quick facts

VehicleFalcon 9 Block 5

OrbitPolar Orbit

PadSpace Launch Complex 4E

SiteVandenberg SFB, CA, USA

WindowThursday October 15 2026, 23:44:00 UTC→Friday October 16 2026, 03:44:00 UTC

Vehicle

FamilyFalcon

Height70 m

Diameter3.7 m

Stages2

ReusableYes

LEO capacity22,800 kg

Track record635/636 successful

Landings621/626