SpaceX is preparing to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission, designated USSF-432 or R-4, is scheduled for liftoff at 4:48 p.m. PST on Friday. The rocket will follow a south-easterly trajectory after departing from pad 4E.
The launch was initially planned for November 1 but faced multiple delays, including those related to a Starlink mission. The payload consists of 23 satellites, which are reportedly based on the SpaceX Starshield platform. These satellites are part of the U.S. Space Force Space Based Sensing and Targeting program.
The mission is the fourth in a series of R-designated launches that began on August 16. Previous flights in this sequence included USSF-366, USSF-153, and USSF-385. The U.S. Space Force has not provided official details regarding the objectives of these missions.
For this flight, SpaceX will utilize the B1095 first-stage booster, which is performing its eighth mission. Following stage separation, the booster is set to land on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, positioned in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California, Mexico.
