USSF-481
Falcon 9 Block 5, SpaceX
Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Launch time
Window opens
Fri 16 Oct, 01:44 CEST
Thu 15 Oct, 23:44 UTC
Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
- Window closes
How sure is this date?
The source gives minute precision. Launch plans can change.
Source updated
UpdatedSlip history
No changes since we started tracking on .
- LL2 update
GO for launch.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Added launch per marine navigation warnings.
Read the source update
Mission
USSF-481 on Falcon 9 Block 5 from Space Launch Complex 4E. Launch time, status and recorded date changes from Launch Library 2.
A classified mission for the United States Space Force. It is possibly a batch of classified LEO satellites based on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite bus, based on locations of ascent rocket stage drop zones being fits with previous SDA Transport Layer launches.
- Mission type
- Government/Top Secret
- Orbit
- Polar Orbit
Rocket file imagery
File imagery: Crew-9, 28 September 2024. Falcon 9 lifting off from Space Launch Complex 40.
Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber · Public domain (NASA) · SourceLaunch timeline
Times are relative to liftoff. Clock times are not shown while T-0 is unconfirmed or on hold.
- T-38 min
GO for Prop Load
Launch director verifies go for propellant load
- T-35 min
Stage 1 LOX Load
Start of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
- T-35 min
Prop Load
Start of propelland loading
- T-16 min
Stage 2 LOX Load
Start of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
- T-7 min
Engine Chill
Start of engine chilling
- T-1 min
Startup
The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
- T-1 min
Tank Press
Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
- T-45 s
GO for Launch
Launch director verifies go for launch
- T-3 s
Ignition
Start of the engine ignition sequence
- T-0
Liftoff
First upwards movement of the rocket
- T+1 min 7 s
Max-Q
Maximum dynamic pressure
- T+2 min 26 s
MECO
Cut-off of the main engine
- T+2 min 29 s
Stage 2 Separation
Separation of the second stage from the first
- T+2 min 36 s
SES-1
First start of the second engine
- T+3 min 1 s
Fairing Separation
Separation of the payload fairing
- T+6 min 1 s
Entry Burn Startup
Start of the atmospheric entry burn
- T+6 min 24 s
Entry Burn Shutdown
End of the atmospheric entry burn
- T+8 min
Stage 1 Landing Burn
Start of the first stage landing burn
- T+8 min 9 s
Stage 1 Landing
Landing of the first stage
Launch pad
Space Launch Complex 4E
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (US)
Coordinates: 34.632, -120.611
View launch pad on a map