SpaceX scrubbed its planned Tuesday launch of a national security payload for the U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Operations are now targeting a backup window on Wednesday night, pending propellant loading and pre-flight checks at Space Launch Complex 4E.
SpaceX called off its initial launch attempt for the USSF-259
mission prior to fueling and without public explanation,
according to Spaceflightnow. The Falcon 9 vehicle remains positioned on Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, awaiting a rescheduled liftoff.
U.S. Space Force Mission Schedule and Vandenberg Operations
Liftoff for the reset mission is scheduled during a four-hour window opening at 6 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, which corresponds to 9 p.m. EDT or 0100 UTC, according to Spaceflightnow. Upon leaving the pad, the Falcon 9 rocket will fly on a southerly trajectory.
The classified payload is slated for deployment into a low Earth orbit inclined roughly 80 degrees from the Equator. This flight represents the third launch in a single month procured by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command through the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 contract. Prior missions under this procurement tier included USSF-366 on August 15 and USSF-153 on September 10, each carrying 23 satellites and identified in public documents as R1 and R2. The current USSF-259 flight carries the designation TH-1 in those same documents, while an additional mission designated R-3 is scheduled for September 27.
Falcon 9 First Stage B1097 Flight History and Droneship Recovery
SpaceX is utilizing Falcon 9 first stage booster B1097 for the Vandenberg operation. This flight marks the 13th time the booster has flown. Its prior missions include launching NROL-172, Twilight, Transporter-17, Sentinel-6B, and eight batches of Starlink satellites.
Nearly 8.5 minutes after liftoff, booster B1097 will target a touchdown on the autonomous droneship Of Course I Still Love You,
stationed in the Pacific Ocean. If the maneuver succeeds, it will mark the 224th landing on that specific vessel and the 661st Falcon booster landing overall.
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