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SpaceX launches classified mission for US Space Force in California
New York Post • • general
Key Points:
- A Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 7 a.m. carrying the classified USSF-385 mission for the U.S. Space Force, producing sonic booms heard in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties.
- The mission details remain classified, and the SpaceX webcast was cut short, consistent with national security launches; the rocket's booster successfully landed on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean about eight-and-a-half minutes after launch.
- This launch marks SpaceX's third classified Space Force mission from Vandenberg within 16 days, following the USSF-153 and USSF-259 missions earlier in September.
- Falcon 9 rockets have been used over 100 times this year, primarily to deploy Starlink satellites, with over 11,000 low-orbit satellites currently in service.
- SpaceX's stock surge has contributed to Elon Musk becoming the world's first trillionaire, and recent news about a new launch date for the Starship rocket has caused shares to rise over 5%.
