π UPDATE β September 10, 2026
SpaceX successfully launched the USSF-153 mission from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 15:43 UTC today aboard Falcon 9 booster B1081, on its 27th flight. Minutes after liftoff, the first stage booster executed a precision landing on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, marking another successful recovery. The classified U.S. Space Force payload has been delivered to orbit.
π Liftoff confirmed β @SpaceX
π¬ Booster landing β @SpaceX
SpaceX is in the final stretch of launch preparations for the USSF-153 mission, a classified payload for the U.S. Space Force launching aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. As of Thursday morning, the company confirmed all systems are nominal and weather conditions are sitting at 70% favorable β propellant loading was set to begin ahead of a three-hour launch window opening at 8:37 a.m. PT.
The Mission
USSF-153 is a classified mission contracted by the U.S. Space Force, which means SpaceX isn't disclosing payload specifics. According to Space.com, the mission is likely carrying a batch of classified low Earth orbit satellites β potentially built on SpaceX's Starshield satellite bus, a hardened government variant of the Starlink platform. The payload's exact purpose and operator remain undisclosed.
The launch site is Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg, SpaceX's primary West Coast pad and the standard staging ground for polar and sun-synchronous orbit missions serving national security customers.
The Booster: 27 Flights and Counting
The first stage flying this mission is B1081, a veteran booster making its 27th flight. Its resume includes Crew-7, CRS-29, the PACE Earth-science mission, and 16 Starlink launches β a track record that reflects how thoroughly SpaceX has normalized rapid booster reuse for both commercial and government work. Following stage separation, B1081 is expected to land on the autonomous spaceport drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, positioned in the Pacific Ocean.
If the booster lands successfully, it will add another data point to what is already one of the most extensive reuse records in the program.
Mission Count Context
According to spacexstats.app, USSF-153 marks the 104th Falcon 9 mission of 2026 β a pace that underscores how routine high-cadence orbital launches have become for SpaceX. The company has maintained a launch tempo that would have seemed extraordinary just a few years ago, and national security missions like this one now slot into that schedule alongside commercial Starlink and rideshare flights with little fanfare.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Launch Site | SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB, California |
| Launch Window Opens | 8:37 a.m. PT / 11:37 a.m. ET (3-hour window) |
| Backup Window | September 11, 2026 at 8:23 a.m. PT |
| Booster | B1081 β 27th flight |
| Landing Zone | Of Course I Still Love You ASDS, Pacific Ocean |
| Weather Forecast | 70% favorable |
| 2026 Mission Count | 104th Falcon 9 launch of the year |
Where to Watch
SpaceX will stream the launch live via its official channels, with the webcast beginning approximately 10 minutes before liftoff. For those on the Central California coast, the rocket should be visible from the ground on a clear morning β Vandenberg launches heading south toward polar orbit typically produce a bright exhaust plume visible across a wide area shortly after liftoff.
With propellant loading underway and no technical holds reported, the countdown appears to be proceeding smoothly. A backup opportunity is available Friday morning if today's window closes without a launch. Follow our SpaceX coverage for post-launch updates.
Sources & reporting notes
The links below identify the material source records used for this report.
- @SpaceX on X (2026-09-10T14:50:35.000Z) β Direct source
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