SpaceX Set to Launch Classified USSF-481 Mission From Vandenberg

SpaceX will launch the classified USSF-481 mission for the U.S. Space Force this evening, October 15, from Vandenberg Space Force Base on California's central coast. The Falcon 9 flight marks the 114th mission of the rocket this year.

The mission will deliver undisclosed payloads to an undisclosed location in orbit. SpaceX is not expected to provide additional details during its webcast, which is anticipated to begin about 10 minutes before launch and likely end shortly after the first stage lands.

The Falcon 9 is scheduled to lift off during a four-hour window that opens at 7:44 p.m. EDT (2344 GMT; 4:44 p.m. local time). The first stage is expected to land roughly eight minutes after launch on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, stationed in the Pacific Ocean. The webcast is expected to conclude just after that landing.

USSF-481 will be the 28th flight for this particular booster, designated 1081. Sixteen of its previous 27 launches were devoted to building out SpaceX's Starlink broadband megaconstellation in low Earth orbit. Other past missions for Booster 1081 included Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, Transporter-10, EarthCARE, NROL-186, Transporter-13, TRACERS, NROL-48, and COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM3.

This launch continues a heavy year of Falcon 9 activity, with more than 70% of the rocket's 2026 flights dedicated to Starlink missions. SpaceX has also launched its Falcon Heavy and Starship rockets three times each so far this year. Falcon Heavy is an operational vehicle, while the fully reusable Starship remains in the test-flight phase. Starship reached orbit for the first time on its most recent launch on September 28.

As a classified mission, USSF-481's purpose and destination remain undisclosed, and SpaceX has indicated it will not share further information during the broadcast.

Viewers can watch the launch live via a SpaceX webcast, expected to begin about 10 minutes before liftoff.