📌 UPDATE — May 3, 2026
SpaceX's Falcon 9 has successfully launched the CAS500-2 mission from Vandenberg's SLC-4E, delivering all 45 payloads to orbit. SpaceX confirmed the successful deployment via their official account shortly after liftoff, continuing the company's strong cadence of rideshare orbital missions in 2026.
📡 @SpaceX via X — "Falcon 9 launches the CAS500-2 mission from California and delivers 45 payloads to orbit."
📌 UPDATE — May 3, 2026
SpaceX has officially confirmed that the rideshare deployment sequence for the CAS500-2 mission is complete, meaning all 45 payloads have been successfully released into orbit. The confirmation came via SpaceX's official X account early Sunday morning UTC. This marks a full mission success following tonight's launch from Vandenberg's SLC-4E.
📌 UPDATE — May 3, 2026
SpaceX has confirmed successful deployment of the CAS500-2 satellite, with the broader rideshare deployment sequence for all 45 payloads now underway. The CAS500-2 confirmation came at approximately 08:01 UTC, followed roughly 15 minutes later by SpaceX announcing the start of the full rideshare deployment sequence for the remaining co-manifested payloads.
@SpaceX · May 3, 2026"Deployment of the CAS500-2 satellite confirmed"
With the rideshare sequence now begun, all 45 payloads are expected to be released over the coming hours. We will update further once full deployment is complete.
📌 UPDATE — May 3, 2026
SpaceX successfully launched the CAS500-2 mission at 11:59 p.m. PT, with Falcon 9 lifting off from SLC-4E at Vandenberg as planned. Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, the first stage executed a precise return and touched down on Landing Zone 4, marking another successful booster recovery for the reusable rocket program.
📌 UPDATE — May 3, 2026
SpaceX has successfully launched the Falcon 9 CAS500-2 mission to orbit. The rocket lifted off from Vandenberg's SLC-4E, delivering its 45-payload rideshare manifest to orbit. SpaceX confirmed the launch via their official X account, sharing a livestream of the event.
SpaceX has raised Falcon 9 to vertical at Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, signaling final preparations for tonight's CAS500-2 mission. The 37-minute launch window opens at 11:59 p.m. PT (6:59 a.m. UTC on May 3), with 45 payloads packed aboard for what amounts to a busy rideshare flight.
The headline payload is CAS500-2, an Earth-observation satellite developed by the Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). Designed to capture imagery in both panchromatic and multispectral modes, it joins a crowded manifest of 44 additional rideshare passengers. SpaceX had previously listed 46 payloads for this mission before updating the count to 45.
Booster B1071 is doing the heavy lifting — and it's no rookie. This marks the veteran first stage's 33rd flight. After separation, B1071 is expected to return to Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg rather than a drone ship, a relatively short trip back to solid ground. A live webcast will begin approximately 15 minutes before liftoff via SpaceX's official channels.
A backup launch opportunity is available on May 3 if tonight's window doesn't work out. Weather and range conditions at Vandenberg will be the deciding factors. For anyone tracking the West Coast night sky, a successful launch should produce a visible plume over Southern California shortly after midnight.
Sarah focuses on Tesla Energy, SpaceX missions, and the broader Musk AI portfolio. Former data analyst in clean energy. Based in San Francisco.
Sources verified at publish time. Spotted an inaccuracy? Email editorial@basenor.com.
