SpaceX successfully launched a national security mission, USSF-385, using its Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on September 26, 2026. This marks the company’s third Space Force flight in just 16 days, following launches of the USSF-153 and USSF-259 missions earlier in the month. The first stage of the rocket landed flawlessly on the SpaceX drone ship, making it the 10th successful flight and landing of booster 1100.
While details about the USSF-385 mission are classified, SpaceX typically concludes its webcasts quickly after national security launches. The Falcon 9 has achieved 108 flights in 2026, with a significant portion aimed at building SpaceX’s Starlink broadband constellation, which now includes over 11,000 satellites in low Earth orbit.
Additionally, SpaceX is preparing for its third Starship launch of 2026, scheduled for September 28. This marks an important milestone for the Starship program, as it aims to reach orbit for the first time.
