Falcon 9 Block 5 | Transporter 18 (Dedicated SSO Rideshare)
Pad: Space Launch Complex 4E · Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Dedicated rideshare flight to a sun-synchronous orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.
Falcon 9 Liftoff with Dragon Spacecraft
Photo: SpaceX
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Transporter 18 (Dedicated SSO Rideshare) Live Coverage
Official Webcast Feed Scheduled
Live broadcast embeds typically go live 15 to 20 minutes prior to launch window liftoff. Check the official SpaceX channels or Spaceflight Now for live feeds.
🛰️ Mission Orbital & Environment Matrix
- Target Orbit
- SSO
- Target Altitude
- 550 km
- Inclination
- 53.2°
- Weather Violation Risk
- 10%
- Primary Payload
- Transporter 18 (Dedicated SSO Rideshare)
- Launch Window
- Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 06:18 PM UTC – 07:16 PM UTC
♻️ Hardware Reusability & Recovery Matrix
- Booster Core
- B1082
- Flight Count
- Operational Flight
- Recovery Strategy
- Autonomous Drone Ship (ASDS)
- Fairing Recovery
- Flight Proven
- Landing Vessel / Zone
- Designated Drone Ship (ASDS)
- Vehicle Architecture
- Falcon 9 Technical Specs & Flight Geometry →
⏱️ Operational Timeline Milestones & Staging Sequence
Target T-0: 2026-10-01Terminal Count
T-00:15:00Autonomous launch sequence start
Auto Sequence
T-00:03:00Flight computer assumes control
Liftoff
T-00:00:00Stage 1 main engine ignition & liftoff
MECO & Stage Sep
T+00:02:40Main engine cut-off and stage separation
Stage 1 Landing
T+00:08:30Booster touchdown on recovery vessel / zone
Payload Deploy
T+00:45:00Spacecraft insertion into target orbit
Space Launch Complex 4E
Vandenberg Space Force Base · Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Vandenberg SLC-4E Coastal Liftoff
Falcon 9 ascending from Space Launch Complex 4E overlooking the Pacific coastline at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Photo Credit: U.S. Space Force / Michael PetersonSLC-4E is the premier West Coast spaceport for polar, sun-synchronous (SSO), and retrograde orbital insertions. Situated on a dramatic coastal bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it enables rockets to fly south over open ocean without crossing populated landmasses.