SpaceX is preparing for the Transporter 18 rideshare mission, scheduled for October 1, 2026, at 11:18 AM PDT from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The mission will utilize a Falcon 9 rocket, marking the 110th flight of the vehicle in 2026. The booster, B1082-25, is set to perform a return-to-launch-site maneuver after stage separation.
The mission carries 130 payloads, including Google’s Project Suncatcher M1 prototype, which tests Tensor Processing Units for space-based AI data centers. Another key payload is the 335 kg Otter servicing vehicle from Starfish Space, tasked with a two-year autonomous inspection mission known as SSPICY under a NASA contract.
NASA-sponsored payloads include the SPRITE 12U CubeSat for studying supernova remnants and the GPDM system for testing green propellant. Additionally, Varda Space will deploy its W-8 and W-9 manufacturing satellites, while Exolaunch is managing the deployment of 45 satellites, including four units for ICEYE.
SpaceX plans to conclude its Falcon 9 rideshare program by 2028 as it shifts operations to the Starship launch system. The current manifest includes three remaining Transporter missions through October 2027 and three Bandwagon missions, with the final flight expected in the first quarter of 2028.
