Brief
SpaceX launches classified USSF-481 mission from Vandenberg
The Falcon 9 lifted off at 7:44 p.m. EDT, delivering 21 data transport satellites for the US Space Force's Space Development Agency.
By Felo News Desk · Published
SpaceX launched a classified US Space Force mission, USSF-481, from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Oct. 15, 2026, according to Space.com.
What happened
The Falcon 9 lifted off during a four‑hour window that opened at 7:44 p.m. EDT (2344 GMT; 4:44 p.m. local time). The rocket carried 21 data‑transport satellites for the US Space Development Agency to an undisclosed orbit. The first stage, booster 1081, is on its 28th flight and is expected to land on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” about eight minutes after liftoff.
What the reports add
Space.com notes that booster 1081 has previously flown 27 times, with 16 Starlink missions among those flights. The launch is the 114th Falcon 9 mission of the year, and more than 70% of SpaceX’s 2026 flights have been for Starlink. The article also mentions that SpaceX has launched its Falcon Heavy and Starship three times this year, with Starship still in test‑flight phase.
What was said
Michael Wall, Spaceflight and Tech Editor for Space.com, is quoted in the article as explaining that the webcast will begin about ten minutes before launch and will likely end after the first‑stage landing.
How it came about
The USSF‑481 launch follows a series of recent SpaceX activities covered by Felo News, including the Starlink launch on Oct. 12 and the CRS‑35 cargo mission to the ISS on Oct. 13. Those events illustrate SpaceX’s high launch cadence this year.
Key facts
- SpaceX launched USSF-481 from Vandenberg on Oct. 15, 2026. (space.com)
- The Falcon 9 carried 21 data transport satellites for the US Space Development Agency. (space.com)
- Booster 1081 is on its 28th flight and will land on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You". (space.com)
- The launch window opened at 7:44 p.m. EDT (2344 GMT). (space.com)
- More than 70% of SpaceX’s 2026 flights have been Starlink missions. (space.com)
Sources
- [1] space.com — originally reported as “Watch SpaceX launch classified mission for the US Space Force today”
