Falcon 9 Block 5 | Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission launch

SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulAstrophysics

Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission

Name: Falcon 9 Block 5 | Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission
Start: 2026-01-11T13:44:50Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Sun, Jan 11 · 1:44:50 PM UTC2026-01-11 13:44:50 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+8:09 and released the payload at T+1:01:33.

Landed

B1097 Landed

The first stage landed at Landing Zone 4, on its 5th flight.

Worldwide

4th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

SpaceX

4th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 4E

2nd

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

8 d 11 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX - Falcon 9 - Twilight (Pandora & Others) - SLC-4E - Vandenberg SFB - January 11, 2026

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 1:44 PM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Ascent5

T+1:121:46 PMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:151:47 PMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:181:47 PMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:261:47 PMFirst start of the second engine
T+2:561:47 PMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return7

T+2:221:47 PMFlip maneuver of the first stage
T+2:321:47 PMStart of the booster boostback burn
T+3:261:48 PMEnd of the booster boostback burn
T+6:081:50 PMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:191:51 PMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:161:52 PMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+7:341:52 PMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload11

T+8:091:52 PMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+56:552:41 PMSecond start of the second engine
T+56:562:41 PMSecond cut-off of the second engine
T+1:01:332:46 PMStart of the payload deployment sequence
T+1:08:222:53 PMEnd of the payload deployment sequence.
T+1:43:043:27 PMThird start of the second engine
T+1:43:053:27 PMThird cut-off of the second engine
T+2:14:513:59 PMFourth start of the second engine
T+2:14:523:59 PMFourth cut-off of the second engine
T+2:19:564:04 PMStart of the payload deployment sequence
T+2:32:594:17 PMEnd of the payload deployment sequence.

Mission

The Pandora small satellite was selected in 2021 as an inaugural mission in NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers Program. It includes a 0.45-meter telescope that will improve our understanding of exoplanet atmospheres by disentangling exoplanet signals from their host stars, as well as studying host star variability with long-duration observations of 20 unique planets through visible-light photometry and near-infrared spectroscopy.

Also launching on this launch are 39 other ride-share payloads under the "Falcon 9 Twilight mission" manifested by Exolaunch, including satellites from Spire Global and Kepler Communications.

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 11 · 4:21 PM
All payloads deployed, launch successful.
hitura-nobad
Jan 11 · 1:45 PM
Liftoff
hitura-nobad
Jan 11 · 1:25 PM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Jan 11 · 4:55 AM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 11 · 4:03 AM
Now targeting Jan 11 at 13:44 UTC
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Jan 10 · 7:03 PM
Now targeting Jan 11 at 13:20 UTC
hitura-nobad
Jan 7 · 10:46 PM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 2 · 7:28 PM
NET January 11.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 30 · 3:17 AM
NET January.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 9 · 2:49 AM
Added launch. (launch date per https://bsky.app/profile/danielapai.bsky.social/post/3m4wrvazwz22s)
Cosmic_Penguin

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

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SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulAstrophysics

Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Sun, Jan 11 · 1:44:50 PM UTC2026-01-11 13:44:50 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+8:09 and released the payload at T+1:01:33.

Landed

B1097 Landed

The first stage landed at Landing Zone 4, on its 5th flight.

Worldwide

4th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

SpaceX

4th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 4E

2nd

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

8 d 11 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX - Falcon 9 - Twilight (Pandora & Others) - SLC-4E - Vandenberg SFB - January 11, 2026

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 1:44 PM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Ascent5

T+1:121:46 PMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:151:47 PMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:181:47 PMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:261:47 PMFirst start of the second engine
T+2:561:47 PMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return7

T+2:221:47 PMFlip maneuver of the first stage
T+2:321:47 PMStart of the booster boostback burn
T+3:261:48 PMEnd of the booster boostback burn
T+6:081:50 PMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:191:51 PMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:161:52 PMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+7:341:52 PMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload11

T+8:091:52 PMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+56:552:41 PMSecond start of the second engine
T+56:562:41 PMSecond cut-off of the second engine
T+1:01:332:46 PMStart of the payload deployment sequence
T+1:08:222:53 PMEnd of the payload deployment sequence.
T+1:43:043:27 PMThird start of the second engine
T+1:43:053:27 PMThird cut-off of the second engine
T+2:14:513:59 PMFourth start of the second engine
T+2:14:523:59 PMFourth cut-off of the second engine
T+2:19:564:04 PMStart of the payload deployment sequence
T+2:32:594:17 PMEnd of the payload deployment sequence.

Mission

Also launching on this launch are 39 other ride-share payloads under the "Falcon 9 Twilight mission" manifested by Exolaunch, including satellites from Spire Global and Kepler Communications.

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 11 · 4:21 PM
All payloads deployed, launch successful.
hitura-nobad
Jan 11 · 1:45 PM
Liftoff
hitura-nobad
Jan 11 · 1:25 PM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Jan 11 · 4:55 AM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 11 · 4:03 AM
Now targeting Jan 11 at 13:44 UTC
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Jan 10 · 7:03 PM
Now targeting Jan 11 at 13:20 UTC
hitura-nobad
Jan 7 · 10:46 PM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 2 · 7:28 PM
NET January 11.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 30 · 3:17 AM
NET January.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 9 · 2:49 AM
Added launch. (launch date per https://bsky.app/profile/danielapai.bsky.social/post/3m4wrvazwz22s)
Cosmic_Penguin

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

Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent5

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload11

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent5

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload11

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent5

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload11

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Never Miss a Launch.

Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent5

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload11

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Vandenberg SFB