SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulEarth Science

CSG‑3

Name: Falcon 9 Block 5 | CSG-3
Start: 2026-01-03T02:09:16Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Sat, Jan 3 · 2:09:16 AM UTC2026-01-03 02:09:16 UTCSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+10:31 and released the payload at T+12:52.

Landed

B1081 Landed

The first stage landed at Landing Zone 4, on its 21st flight.

Worldwide

1st

orbital launch attempt in 2026

SpaceX

1st

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 4E

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

16 d 10 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX CSG-3

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 2:09 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Ascent5

T+1:122:10 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:152:11 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:182:11 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:262:11 AMFirst start of the second engine
T+2:372:11 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return7

T+2:222:11 AMFlip maneuver of the first stage
T+2:312:11 AMStart of the booster boostback burn
T+3:112:12 AMEnd of the booster boostback burn
T+6:372:15 AMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:022:16 AMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:532:17 AMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+8:232:17 AMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload2

T+10:312:19 AMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+12:522:22 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket

Mission

CSG-3 is an Earth observation satellite for the Italian Space Agency, part of a reconnaissance constellation using synthetic aperture radars operating in the X-band.

Launch Provider

SpaceX

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2002 · CEO Elon Musk

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.

Launches

742

Successful

727

98%

Landings

687

of 715

Upcoming

136

scheduled

FliesFalcon Starship Dragon

All SpaceX launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Jan 3 · 5:13 AM
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 3 · 2:25 AM
Spacecraft separation.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 3 · 2:09 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 3 · 1:50 AM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Jan 2 · 4:48 PM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Dec 31 · 5:19 PM
Go for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 30 · 9:12 PM
Now targeting Jan 03 at 02:09 UTC
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 29 · 6:37 PM
NET December 31 LT, to be confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 29 · 1:00 AM
Scrubbed due to pad GSE problem, new date to be confirmed (NET December 31 UTC per https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt).
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 28 · 8:12 PM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 28 · 5:08 AM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 28 · 1:48 AM
Rescheduled for December 28 LT.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 28 · 1:44 AM
Scrubbed for the day.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 27 · 6:18 PM
Now targeting Dec 28 at 02:09 UTC
hitura-nobad
Dec 27 · 2:15 AM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 19 · 7:41 PM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 16 · 9:56 PM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 8 · 10:01 PM
NET December 28.
Cosmic_Penguin
Nov 15 · 9:38 PM
Switching launch vehicle and launch services provider per latest information.
Cosmic_Penguin
Sep 15 · 2:17 AM
NET 2026.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 16 · 6:39 AM
NET December 2025
Nosu
Jan 25 · 8:08 AM
NET 2025
Nosu
Oct 4 · 6:05 AM
Adding CSG-3 on Vega-C NET 2024
Nosu

Falcon 9 Block 5

Vehicle history

Height

70m

Diameter

3.6m

To low Earth orbit

22,800kg

Liftoff thrust

7,607kN

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

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SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulEarth Science

CSG‑3

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Sat, Jan 3 · 2:09:16 AM UTC2026-01-03 02:09:16 UTCSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+10:31 and released the payload at T+12:52.

Landed

B1081 Landed

The first stage landed at Landing Zone 4, on its 21st flight.

Worldwide

1st

orbital launch attempt in 2026

SpaceX

1st

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 4E

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

16 d 10 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX CSG-3

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 2:09 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Ascent5

T+1:122:10 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:152:11 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:182:11 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:262:11 AMFirst start of the second engine
T+2:372:11 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return7

T+2:222:11 AMFlip maneuver of the first stage
T+2:312:11 AMStart of the booster boostback burn
T+3:112:12 AMEnd of the booster boostback burn
T+6:372:15 AMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:022:16 AMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:532:17 AMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+8:232:17 AMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload2

T+10:312:19 AMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+12:522:22 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket

Mission

CSG-3 is an Earth observation satellite for the Italian Space Agency, part of a reconnaissance constellation using synthetic aperture radars operating in the X-band.

Launch Provider

SpaceX

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2002 · CEO Elon Musk

Launches

742

Successful

727

98%

Landings

687

of 715

Upcoming

136

scheduled

FliesFalcon Starship Dragon

All SpaceX launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Jan 3 · 5:13 AM
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 3 · 2:25 AM
Spacecraft separation.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 3 · 2:09 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 3 · 1:50 AM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Jan 2 · 4:48 PM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Dec 31 · 5:19 PM
Go for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 30 · 9:12 PM
Now targeting Jan 03 at 02:09 UTC
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 29 · 6:37 PM
NET December 31 LT, to be confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 29 · 1:00 AM
Scrubbed due to pad GSE problem, new date to be confirmed (NET December 31 UTC per https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt).
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 28 · 8:12 PM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 28 · 5:08 AM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 28 · 1:48 AM
Rescheduled for December 28 LT.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 28 · 1:44 AM
Scrubbed for the day.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 27 · 6:18 PM
Now targeting Dec 28 at 02:09 UTC
hitura-nobad
Dec 27 · 2:15 AM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 19 · 7:41 PM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 16 · 9:56 PM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 8 · 10:01 PM
NET December 28.
Cosmic_Penguin
Nov 15 · 9:38 PM
Switching launch vehicle and launch services provider per latest information.
Cosmic_Penguin
Sep 15 · 2:17 AM
NET 2026.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 16 · 6:39 AM
NET December 2025
Nosu
Jan 25 · 8:08 AM
NET 2025
Nosu
Oct 4 · 6:05 AM
Adding CSG-3 on Vega-C NET 2024
Nosu

Falcon 9 Block 5

Vehicle history

Height

70m

Diameter

3.6m

To low Earth orbit

22,800kg

Liftoff thrust

7,607kN

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Vandenberg SFB schedule

Oct30Fri

Starlink Group 15-18SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USALow Earth OrbitGo for launch4:02 AM UTC Nov2Mon

USSF-432SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USALow Earth OrbitGo for launch1:56 AM UTC

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

CSG‑3

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent5

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload2

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

CSG‑3

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent5

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload2

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Next From Vandenberg SFB

CSG‑3

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent5

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload2

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Never Miss a Launch.

CSG‑3

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent5

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload2

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Vandenberg SFB