SpaceX is scheduled to launch the classified USSF-481 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Oct. 15. The mission utilizes a reused Falcon 9 booster and supports national security space launch programs.
SpaceX is scheduled to launch a classified mission for the U.S. Space Force on Oct. 15, 2026. A Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California during a four-hour window that opens at 7:44 p.m. EDT (2344 GMT; 4:44 p.m. local time). The mission, designated USSF-481, will deliver payloads to an undisclosed location in orbit.
The launch will mark the 28th flight for the specific Falcon 9 booster designated 1081. According to a SpaceX mission description, sixteen of the booster's previous 27 launches were devoted to building out SpaceX's Starlink broadband megaconstellation in low Earth orbit. USSF-481 will be the 114th Falcon 9 mission of the year. Space.com reports that more than 70% of the rocket's flights in 2026 have been Starlink missions.
The first stage of the rocket is expected to land on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You," stationed in the Pacific Ocean, approximately eight minutes after launch. Space.com notes that SpaceX is not expected to provide additional information during the webcast, which will likely end shortly after the booster landing.
TechTimes reports that USSF-481 falls under a Space-Based Sensing and Targeting (SBST) contract awarded to SpaceX, worth approximately $1.6 billion for 18 Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg through the end of 2027. The contract covers two task orders under National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1. TechTimes states that the mission advances the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a Defense Department initiative to deploy linked military satellites.
While TechTimes notes that the destination orbit is polar low Earth orbit, Space.com states the payload destination is undisclosed. TechTimes explains that polar low Earth orbit provides global coverage for wide-area surveillance and missile warning. The White House has named PWSA as a key element of the Golden Dome missile defense initiative, according to TechTimes.
Space Launch Delta 30 is supporting the launch from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E). Edhat reports that a minimal possibility exists that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, depending on weather and other conditions.
A live webcast of the mission is expected to begin about 10 minutes prior to liftoff. TechTimes notes that upper stage engine ignition, fairing separation, and payload deployment will not be broadcast publicly for classified missions.
The USSF-481 mission highlights the continued integration of commercial reusable rocket technology into national security operations. The use of a booster with 28 prior flights demonstrates the economic efficiency of SpaceX's reusability program for government contracts. Additionally, the mission underscores the strategic importance of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture in modern missile defense systems, as reported by TechTimes. The launch also reflects the high cadence of SpaceX operations, with 114 Falcon 9 missions scheduled for 2026.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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