SpaceX is preparing to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission, designated USSF-385, is scheduled for Saturday at 5:56 a.m. PDT. The rocket will follow a southerly trajectory from Space Launch Complex 4-East.
The payload for this mission is a classified satellite constellation for the U.S. Space Force. It is reportedly the third flight in a series deploying Starshield satellites, which are government-oriented versions of the Starlink platform. Previous missions in this series, USSF-366 and USSF-153, each deployed 23 satellites.
The first-stage booster, B1100, is performing its 10th flight. It is expected to land on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' approximately eight and a half minutes after liftoff. This launch marks the sixth and final Falcon 9 mission from Vandenberg for the month of September.
SpaceX is increasingly utilizing the West Coast facility as it shifts its focus at Cape Canaveral toward Starship operations. Only one Falcon 9 mission was conducted from the East Coast site during the same period. The company continues to develop its next-generation Starship program, with orbital launch attempts anticipated for next year.
