SpaceX Launches Classified Payload for US Space Force
SpaceX launched the classified USSF-481 payload for the US Space Force from Vandenberg, and the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket landed on a ship in the ocean.
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the classified USSF-481 payload for the US Space Force from Space Launch Complex SLC-4E at Vandenberg Base at 5:01 p.m. West Coast time on October 15, according to Spaceflight Now.
The rocket lifted off on a southerly trajectory toward a low Earth orbit with an inclination of approximately 80 degrees.
The first stage, designated B1081, completed its 28th mission and landed on the ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the ocean.
This marks the 671st landing of a Falcon booster and the 114th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket during 2026.
What Do These Terms Mean?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO): An orbit close to Earth, roughly between 160 and 2,000 kilometers, where the space station and communication satellites orbit.
First Stage: The lower part of the rocket that provides initial thrust, then separates and returns to land for reuse.
Orbital Inclination: The angle of inclination of a satellite's orbit relative to the equator, which determines the area it covers.
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