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USSF-481 (Falcon 9 Block 5) launch | T-Minus Zero

Launch detail

Falcon 9 Block 5 | USSF-481

SpaceX • Falcon 9 Block 5 • Space Launch Complex 4E (CA)

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SuccessROUTINE

USSF-481

SpaceX • Falcon 9 Block 5 • SLC-4E

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Mission summary

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.

Status: Success
Provider: SpaceX
Vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 5
Launch site: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Mission type: Government/Top Secret
Orbit: Polar Orbit

SpaceX

Milestone map

Flight plan

Live targets are highlighted across the sequence.

T-38:00Oct 15, 2026, 4:23 PM PDT
GO for Prop Load
Launch director verifies go for propellant load
T-35:00Oct 15, 2026, 4:26 PM PDT
Prop Load
Start of propelland loading
T-35:00Oct 15, 2026, 4:26 PM PDT
Stage 1 LOX Load
Start of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T-16:00Oct 15, 2026, 4:45 PM PDT
Stage 2 LOX Load
Start of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T-7:00Oct 15, 2026, 4:54 PM PDT
Engine Chill
Start of engine chilling
T-1:00Oct 15, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT
Startup
The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T-1:00Oct 15, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT
Tank Press
Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T-0:45Oct 15, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT
GO for Launch
Launch director verifies go for launch
T-0:03Oct 15, 2026, 5:01 PM PDT
Ignition
Start of the engine ignition sequence
T+0:00Oct 15, 2026, 5:01 PM PDT
Liftoff
First upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:07Oct 15, 2026, 5:02 PM PDT
Max-Q
Maximum dynamic pressure
T+2:26Oct 15, 2026, 5:03 PM PDT
MECO
Cut-off of the main engine
T+2:29Oct 15, 2026, 5:03 PM PDT
Stage 2 Separation
Separation of the second stage from the first
T+2:36Oct 15, 2026, 5:03 PM PDT
SES-1
First start of the second engine
T+3:01Oct 15, 2026, 5:04 PM PDT
Fairing Separation
Separation of the payload fairing
T+6:01Oct 15, 2026, 5:07 PM PDT
Entry Burn Startup
Start of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:24Oct 15, 2026, 5:07 PM PDT
Entry Burn Shutdown
End of the atmospheric entry burn
T+8:00Oct 15, 2026, 5:09 PM PDT
Stage 1 Landing Burn
Start of the first stage landing burn
T+8:09Oct 15, 2026, 5:09 PM PDT
Stage 1 Landing
Landing of the first stage

Photos

Mission, booster & pad imagery

Free-to-share photography matched to this launch. Tap a photo to view it at full resolution.

This mission

Photos: DVIDS / U.S. Dept. of Defense

This booster: B1081

Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs)Photos: DVIDS / U.S. Dept. of DefensePhotos: NASAWikimedia Commons · Public domainWikimedia Commons · CC0Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 igo

This rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5

Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs)Photos: DVIDS / U.S. Dept. of DefensePhotos: NASAWikimedia Commons · Public domain

Landing: Of Course I Still Love You

Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs)Wikimedia Commons · CC0Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Launch pad: Space Launch Complex 4E

Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs)Photos: DVIDS / U.S. Dept. of DefenseWikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Mission resources

Official media & timelines

Matched SpaceX launch-page assets and outbound media links for this launch.

SpaceX content

Official mission page

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Mission timeline

Pre-launch

SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load