UPDATE as of 6:35 pm Oct. 5: Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 launch is now scheduled for midnight, Thursday, Oct. 8, targeting a 12:54 a.m. liftoff, with landing back at Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg approximately 8-10 min after launch.
———————————————————————-
UPDATE as of 9:00 a.m. Oct. 5: This mission is now scheduled to launch no earlier than Tuesday, Oct. 6. Liftoff is targeted between 12:59 a.m. and 1:21 a.m. PT., with landing scheduled back to base approximately 8-10 minutes after launch.
A backup opportunity is available on Wednesday, October 7, if needed.
This is the fourth of nine Tranche 1 missions Falcon 9 will launch on behalf of the SDA.
———————————————————————-
Vandenberg Guardians and Airmen were previously scheduled to support the upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of the Space Development Agency's fourth Tranche 1 data transport Monday, Oct. 5 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East.
🚀 Liftoff was targeted for 1:17 a.m. PT, with a landing scheduled back to base approximately 8-10 minutes after launch.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about 10 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX.
The space vehicles launched during this mission will provide data transport as part of the SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a mesh network of optically connected satellites in low-Earth orbit that enable global military tactical communications and missile warning, indication, and tracking capabilities. Falcon 9 will deliver 21 data transport satellites comprising the fourth orbital plane in the SDA’s proliferated LEO architecture.
There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.
Backup opportunity available on Tuesday, October 6 at 1:08 a.m. PT, if needed. This is the fourth of nine Tranche 1 missions Falcon 9 will launch on behalf of the SDA.
