SpaceX Launches Classified USSF-385 Mission for U.S. Space Force
SpaceX Launches USSF-385 Mission for U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg
SpaceX launched the classified USSF-385 mission for the U.S. Space Force on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sept. 26, 2026, marking the third national security flight for the company in 16 days. The launch occurred at 10:00 a.m. EDT from the foggy California installation, continuing a dense cadence of defense deployments.
The Tech TL;DR:
- Payload Status: Payloads and destinations for the USSF-385 mission remain classified, with SpaceX terminating its live webcast shortly after booster touchdown.
- Booster Metrics: Booster 1100 completed its 10th launch and landing, successfully touching down on the Pacific drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” 8.5 minutes after liftoff.
- Launch Cadence: This flight follows the classified USSF-153 and USSF-259 missions launched from Vandenberg on Sept. 10 and Sept. 16, respectively, pushing Falcon 9 flight totals to 108 for 2026.
Booster 1100 Performance and Mission Architecture
The Falcon 9 first stage executed a return profile, touching down on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean 8.5 minutes after liftoff. Designated booster 1100, this specific hardware component logged its 10th launch and landing.
Following established protocols for military payloads, SpaceX cut off its launch webcast shortly after booster touchdown. Unlike commercial flights that typically stream video through payload deployment, national security flights maintain operational security regarding orbital insertion vectors and precise deployment timelines.
Rapid Cadence Across Vandenberg Infrastructure
The Sept. 26 flight represents a brisk tempo for military orbital assets. This mission was the third Space Force flight in the past 16 days originating from the Vandenberg Space Force Base range. Earlier in the month, Falcon 9 rockets carried out the classified USSF-153 mission on Sept. 10 and the USSF-259 mission on Sept. 16.
This surge contributes to a broader operational year for the launch provider. The Falcon 9 has flown 108 times in 2026 alone. While national security flights form a component of this manifest, the vast majority of these missions—75% of them—have been dedicated to building out the Starlink broadband constellation, which currently consists of more than 11,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. In addition to Falcon 9 activity, SpaceX has launched two flights apiece of its Falcon Heavy and Starship rockets this year, with preparations underway for a third Starship test flight aimed at reaching orbit for the first time.