Space Force national security mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California prior to fueling, according to Spaceflight Now. The rocket remains standing on Space Launch Complex 4E as teams target a backup launch opportunity on Wednesday, Sept. 16, according to the same reporting.
USSF-259 Launch Window and Flight Trajectory
Liftoff of the USSF-259 mission is scheduled during a four-hour window opening at 6 p.m. PDT (9 p.m. Upon leaving Space Launch Complex 4E, the Falcon 9 will fly on a southerly trajectory. Spaceflight Now announced plans to host live coverage beginning about 30 minutes prior to liftoff.
Classified Payload Deployment Under NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1
The mission’s classified payload is expected to deploy into a low Earth orbit inclined roughly 80 degrees from the Equator, according to Spaceflight Now reporting. This flight marks SpaceX’s third launch in a month procured by the U.S.
Previous missions under this procurement include USSF-366 on Aug. 15 and USSF-153 on Sept. 10, both of which carried 23 satellites and were identified in public documents as R1 and R2, according to Spaceflight Now. Public documents identify USSF-259 as TH-1, while a mission designated R-3 is scheduled for Sept. 27, according to the same source. To date, SSC has declined to confirm any details about these missions.
Falcon 9 Booster B1097 History and Droneship Recovery
SpaceX will launch the mission using Falcon 9 first stage booster B1097, according to Spaceflight Now data. This flight will mark the 13th journey for B1097, which has previously launched NROL-172, Twilight, Transporter-17, Sentinel-6B, and eight batches of Starlink satellites.
Nearly 8.5 minutes after liftoff, booster B1097 will target a landing on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You, positioned in the Pacific Ocean, according to Spaceflight Now. If successful, this recovery will mark the 224th landing on that specific vessel and the 661st Falcon booster landing to date.
Did You Know?
Booster B1097 is flying its 13th mission on the USSF-259 flight, having previously supported national security payloads like NROL-172 alongside multiple Starlink batches, according to Spaceflight Now records.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the rescheduled USSF-259 launch attempt?
SpaceX is targeting a backup launch opportunity on Wednesday, Sept. 16, within a four-hour window opening at 6 p.m. PDT (9 p.m.
Where does the Falcon 9 launch from for this mission?
The rocket launches from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, according to Spaceflight Now.
What is the designation of the payload in public documents?
Public documents identify the USSF-259 payload as TH-1, according to Spaceflight Now.
Which booster is flying the USSF-259 mission?
SpaceX is utilizing first stage booster B1097 for its 13th flight, according to Spaceflight Now.
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