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Falcon 9 Block 5 | USSF-317
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USSF-317

Falcon 9 Block 5

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Latest published target

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Source record updated

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What changed?

Changes observed by Spacian as the source record was updated. These differences do not establish why a launch moved. Earlier unrecorded changes are not reconstructed.

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LAUNCH SITEVandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Mission

A classified mission for the United States Space Force. It is possibly a batch of classified LEO satellites based on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite bus, based on locations of rocket stage drop zones being exact fits with previous Starlink Group 15 launches.

Launch vehicle
Falcon 9 Block 5
Mission type
Government/Top Secret
Destination orbit
Low Earth Orbit
Launch pad
Space Launch Complex 4E
Provider
SpaceX
Recovery
Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship, Of Course I Still Love You +1

The vehicle

Published configuration and flight history.

Falcon 9 Block 5
SpaceX
Launch vehicle

Falcon 9 Block 5

Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.

Height
70 m
Diameter
3.65 m
Stages
2
Recorded launches
644
First flight
2018-05-11
B1100
SpaceX
Core

B1100

Flight 11ReusedLanding planned
Recovery
Of Course I Still Love You
Landing method
Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship

Launch window

Add to calendar
4h windowPublished target
WINDOW OPENS
WINDOW CLOSES

Target ·

The target marker shows its position within the published window. The schedule may change before launch.

Flight timeline

Planned sequence, not live telemetry. Times are relative to the launch target.

  1. T−00:38:00

    GO for Prop Load

  2. T−00:35:00

    Prop Load

  3. T−00:35:00

    Stage 1 LOX Load

  4. T−00:16:00

    Stage 2 LOX Load

  5. T−00:07:00

    Engine Chill

  6. T−00:01:00

    Tank Press

Show the full sequence (19 events)
  1. T−00:01:00

    Startup

  2. T−00:00:45

    GO for Launch

  3. T−00:00:03

    Ignition

  4. T+00:00:00

    Liftoff

  5. T+00:01:07

    Max-Q

  6. T+00:02:26

    MECO

  7. T+00:02:29

    Stage 2 Separation

  8. T+00:02:36

    SES-1

  9. T+00:02:58

    Fairing Separation

  10. T+00:06:06

    Entry Burn Startup

  11. T+00:06:30

    Entry Burn Shutdown

  12. T+00:07:52

    Stage 1 Landing Burn

  13. T+00:08:11

    Stage 1 Landing

Launch site & orbit

Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

The mission in perspective

Launch site & orbit

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Understand this orbit
NASA Blue Marble map of Earth's continents and oceans
Representative orbit · accelerated illustrationNo live tracking or simulated ascent. NASA Blue Marble.
Watch in person

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Vandenberg launch announcements ↗

Before you set off

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  2. Check official viewing access and any booking requirements.
  3. Use a permitted viewing area. The launch pad is not a visitor destination.
  4. Keep the mission’s coverage link as a backup.
Launch-day guide →

Coverage & sources

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