SpaceX Launches Secret U.S. Space Force Payload From California

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a national security payload for the U.S. Space Force on Wednesday night, after a Tuesday attempt was scrubbed before fueling because of an unexplained issue.

The USSF-259 mission lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E at 6:07:56 p.m. PDT on September 16. The rocket headed south after launch, with its classified payload expected to enter low Earth orbit at an inclination of roughly 80 degrees from the Equator.

The mission is the third SpaceX launch in a month procured by the Space Systems Command through the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 contract.

The Space Systems Command has not confirmed details of the missions, which also include USSF-366, launched August 15, and USSF-153, launched September 10. Public documents identify those missions as R1 and R2, with each carrying 23 satellites. USSF-259 is identified as TH-1, while R-3 is scheduled for September 27.

SpaceX used Falcon 9 first stage B1097 for the launch. It was the booster’s 13th flight, following missions including NROL-172, Twilight, Transporter-17, Sentinel-6B and eight batches of Starlink satellites.

Nearly 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1097 landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. It marked the 224th landing on the vessel and the 661st Falcon booster landing overall.