(Update: Launched) SpaceX to launch Space Development Agency’s Tranche 0 LEO satellites today: Watch live
- Country:
- United States
SpaceX is all set to launch Thursday the Space Development Agency's first Tranche 0 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying 10 Tranche 0 satellites, will lift off at 7:29 a.m. PT (14:29 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
SDA's Tranche 0 comprises a total of 28 Low Earth Orbit satellites - 20 in the Transport Layer for global military communications and data and eight in the missile warning or tracking Tracking Layer. The first 10 satellites are launching today while the remaining 18 satellites are scheduled to be launched in June 2023.
Targeting Thursday, March 30 at 7:29 a.m. PT for Falcon 9’s launch of the @SemperCitiusSDA Tranche 0 mission to low-Earth orbit from SLC-4E in California → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 29, 2023
The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting SDA's Tranche 0 mission previously launched one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
You can visit the official SpaceX website or the company's social media accounts to catch the launch event live. Live streaming will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff.
Update 1
Thursday's launch of SDA's Tranche 0 mission was scrubbed because Falcon 9 had an auto abort just prior to T-0, SpaceX tweeted, adding that it is now targeting Friday, March 31 at 7:29 a.m. PT (14:29 UTC) for the launch.
Falcon 9 had an auto abort just prior to T-0. Vehicle and payload are in good health; teams are resetting for a launch attempt tomorrow, March 31 at 7:29 a.m. PT
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 30, 2023
Update 2
SpaceX has once again scrubbed the Tranche 0 mission launch to allow more time for vehicle preparations. The next launch attempt is scheduled for Saturday, April 1.
Update 3
Falcon 9 launched the Tranche 0 mission to low-Earth orbit on April 2.