SpaceX launches 21 military data satellites after five-day delay
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 21 data satellites for the U.S. military from California at 3:39 a.m. EDT Saturday. They will help build a network to track missiles and link troops in the field. It was the fourth of nine launches for the first phase, and the booster landed safely back at the base.
SpaceX launched 21 satellites for the U.S. military early Saturday, five days after a last-second abort. A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 3:39 a.m. EDT, or 12:39 a.m. local time, Space.com reported.
The satellites belong to the Space Force's Space Development Agency, or SDA. Northrop Grumman built them and delivered them to Vandenberg on Sept. 28, Spaceflight Now reported.
They are part of a growing web of satellites in low Earth orbit. It is meant to pass data among U.S. forces, track missiles and warn of attacks. The satellites talk to each other with lasers, which the SDA says cuts delays compared with radio links.
This was the fourth of nine SpaceX launches for the network's first stage, called Tranche 1. When finished, Tranche 1 will have 126 data satellites and 28 missile-tracking satellites, plus four test satellites. Space.com counts 84 of the 126 data satellites launched so far. The SDA expects the system to start working for the Defense Department in 2027.
The rocket's first stage came back about seven minutes after liftoff and landed at Landing Zone 4. It was the booster's sixth flight. SpaceX ended its webcast soon after the landing at the SDA's request, so the satellites' release had not been shown.
The first try on Oct. 5 stopped with 58 seconds left in the countdown. The two reports differ on why. Spaceflight Now quotes SpaceX citing "some off-nominal data on Stage Two." Space.com says the company had not given a reason. A SpaceX commentator said the extra days also allowed double checks and time to clear the range, which Spaceflight Now linked to a missile test from Vandenberg on Friday.
Saturday's flight was the 111th Falcon 9 launch of the year, Space.com said.
What we know: The Falcon 9 launched 21 SDA satellites and its booster landed safely.
What we don't: Whether all 21 satellites deployed and are working.
Where outlets agree Space.com and Spaceflight Now both report that a Falcon 9 launched 21 SDA satellites from Vandenberg at 3:39 a.m. EDT Saturday and that its booster landed.
Where they differ Spaceflight Now says SpaceX blamed the Oct. 5 abort on off-nominal second-stage data, while Space.com says the company had not disclosed a reason.