On a clear Wednesday, October 15 at 4:06 p.m. PT, SpaceX launched the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 data transport mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This was the second of ten Tranche 1 missions Falcon 9 will launch on behalf of the SDA. Photos captured by Satnews.
This was the seventh flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SDA T1TL-B Tranche 1 and five Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
The space vehicles launched during this mission will provide data transport as a part of SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a new layered network of satellites in low-Earth orbit and supporting elements that will provide global military tactical communication and missile warning, indication, and tracking capabilities.
There was the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may have heard one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experienced was dependent on weather and other conditions.
Thursday, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 28 Starlink smallsats Group 10-52 to low-Earth orbit to join the Starlink constellation from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 2:27 AM – 3:42 AM PDT.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.
This is the third flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read The Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Saturday, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 28 Starlink smallsats Group 11-19 to low-Earth orbit to join the Starlink constellation from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, at 4:46 PM – 8:46 PM PDT.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the X TV app.
This is the 11th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57, and six Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
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.
