Falcon 9 Rocket Lifts Off from Vandenberg Space Force Base
SpaceX launched a classified USSF-432 mission for the U.S. military on Nov. 6, 2026, lifting off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base, Space reported. The Falcon 9 rocket cleared the pad at 7:48 p.m. EST, equivalent to 4:48 p.m. local California time, rising into the evening sky as the sun sank toward the Pacific Ocean. UA.News noted the launch took place at that same local hour as the 125th flight for SpaceX since the beginning of 2026.
Neither SpaceX nor the U.S. Space Force provided detailed information about the payload prior to liftoff. The webcast ended approximately 10 minutes into the flight, shortly after the Falcon 9’s first stage completed its descent back to Earth.
Booster Touchdown on Droneship of Course I Still Love You
The first-stage booster touched down smoothly on the SpaceX droneship “Of Course I Still Love You,” stationed downrange in the Pacific Ocean, according to Space. UA.News added that this flight marked the eighth mission for booster No. 1095, which previously flew the GPS-III 8 mission alongside six Starlink flights. Following stage separation, the Falcon 9’s upper stage continued carrying the mystery payload upward toward low Earth orbit, as observed by outside watchers.
Speculation Surrounding the Starshield Payload
Observers tracking the launch point to potential military applications for the undisclosed hardware. NextSpaceflight.com suggested in a mission description that the payload consists of a batch of classified low Earth orbit satellites built on the Starshield satellite bus for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Based Sensing and Targeting portfolio. The site noted that the rocket stage drop zones match those used during previous Starlink Group 15 launches. Starshield serves as a military-focused counterpart to Starlink, relying on a similar spacecraft bus to provide services to the U.S. military and its allies, Space reported.
National Security Launch Cadence in 2026
USSF-432 stands as the 119th Falcon 9 launch of 2026 and marks the 14th national-security flight for the rocket this year, according to Space and UA.News. Building out the Starlink megaconstellation accounts for more than 70% of all Falcon 9 flights in 2026. Beyond the Falcon 9 fleet, SpaceX flew three operational Falcon Heavy missions and three test flights of its next-generation Starship vehicle over the same period. Company plans dictate that both the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy will retire once the fully reusable Starship system becomes fully operational.
Frequently Asked Questions About USSF-432
When did the USSF-432 mission launch?
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off on Nov. 6, 2026, at 7:48 p.m. EST, or 4:48 p.m. local California time, from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Where did the first-stage booster land?
The first-stage booster landed on the SpaceX droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” stationed in the Pacific Ocean, marking the eighth flight for booster No. 1095.
What is the suspected payload for the mission?
Outside observers, including NextSpaceflight.com, suggest the payload may include classified low Earth orbit satellites for the Space Based Sensing and Targeting program built on the Starshield platform.
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