SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulGovernment/Top Secret

USSF‑481

Name: Falcon 9 Block 5 | USSF-481
Start: 2026-10-16T00:01:05Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Fri, Oct 16 · 12:01:05 AM UTC2026-10-16 00:01:05 UTCSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed on Of Course I Still Love You

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Polar Orbit

Landed

B1081 Landed

The first stage landed on Of Course I Still Love You, on its 28th flight.

Worldwide

243rd

orbital launch attempt in 2026

SpaceX

120th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 4E

65th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

2 d 23 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX USSF-481

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 12:01 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:0011:23 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:0011:26 PMStart of propelland loading
T−35:0011:26 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:0011:45 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0011:54 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0012:00 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0012:00 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4512:00 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0312:01 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:0011:23 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:0011:26 PMStart of propelland loading
T−35:0011:26 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:0011:45 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0011:54 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0012:00 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0012:00 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4512:00 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0312:01 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:0012:01 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:0712:02 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:2612:03 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:2912:03 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:3612:03 AMFirst start of the second engine
T+3:0112:04 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return4

T+6:0112:07 AMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:2412:07 AMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+8:0012:09 AMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+8:0912:09 AMLanding of the first stage

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.

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

Oct 16 · 4:17 AM
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
Oct 16 · 12:01 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Oct 15 · 11:46 PM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Oct 15 · 8:49 PM
Now targeting Oct 16 at 00:01 UTC
Cosmic_Penguin
Oct 15 · 11:06 AM
Now targeting Oct 15 at 23:57 UTC
hitura-nobad

Show earlier updates

Oct 8 · 3:48 PM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Oct 6 · 12:57 AM
Added launch per marine navigation warnings.
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 SuccessfulGovernment/Top Secret

USSF‑481

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Fri, Oct 16 · 12:01:05 AM UTC2026-10-16 00:01:05 UTCSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed on Of Course I Still Love You

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Polar Orbit

Landed

B1081 Landed

The first stage landed on Of Course I Still Love You, on its 28th flight.

Worldwide

243rd

orbital launch attempt in 2026

SpaceX

120th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 4E

65th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

2 d 23 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX USSF-481

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 12:01 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:0011:23 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:0011:26 PMStart of propelland loading
T−35:0011:26 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:0011:45 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0011:54 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0012:00 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0012:00 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4512:00 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0312:01 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:0011:23 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:0011:26 PMStart of propelland loading
T−35:0011:26 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:0011:45 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0011:54 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0012:00 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0012:00 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4512:00 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0312:01 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:0012:01 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:0712:02 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:2612:03 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:2912:03 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:3612:03 AMFirst start of the second engine
T+3:0112:04 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return4

T+6:0112:07 AMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:2412:07 AMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+8:0012:09 AMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+8:0912:09 AMLanding of the first stage

Mission

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

Oct 16 · 4:17 AM
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
Oct 16 · 12:01 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Oct 15 · 11:46 PM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Oct 15 · 8:49 PM
Now targeting Oct 16 at 00:01 UTC
Cosmic_Penguin
Oct 15 · 11:06 AM
Now targeting Oct 15 at 23:57 UTC
hitura-nobad

Show earlier updates

Oct 8 · 3:48 PM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Oct 6 · 12:57 AM
Added launch per marine navigation warnings.
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

USSF‑481

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

USSF‑481

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Next From Vandenberg SFB

USSF‑481

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Never Miss a Launch.

USSF‑481

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Vandenberg SFB