USSF-481

Mission: USSF-481

Government/Top Secret · Polar Orbit

A classified mission for the United States Space Force. It is possibly a batch of classified LEO satellites based on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite bus, based on locations of ascent rocket stage drop zones being fits with previous SDA Transport Layer launches.

Customers: US Space Force

What it put in orbit

Nothing catalogued under 2026-235 yet. Payloads usually appear within days; classified ones never do.

COSPAR ID 2026-235. Orbits from the CelesTrak satellite catalogue (perigee × apogee, inclination).

Where to watch

Timeline

1. T−00:38:00 GO for Prop Load
2. T−00:35:00 Stage 1 LOX Load
3. T−00:35:00 Prop Load
4. T−00:16:00 Stage 2 LOX Load
5. T−00:07:00 Engine Chill
6. T−00:01:00 Tank Press
7. T−00:01:00 Startup
8. T−00:00:45 GO for Launch
9. T−00:00:03 Ignition
10. T+00:00:00 Liftoff
11. T+00:01:07 Max-Q
12. T+00:02:26 MECO
13. T+00:02:29 Stage 2 Separation
14. T+00:02:36 SES-1
15. T+00:03:01 Fairing Separation
16. T+00:06:01 Entry Burn Startup
17. T+00:06:24 Entry Burn Shutdown
18. T+00:08:00 Stage 1 Landing Burn
19. T+00:08:09 Stage 1 Landing

In the news

• Live coverage: SpaceX to launch classified payload for U.S. Space Force Spaceflight Now, 15 Oct 2026
• Launch Preview: Falcon 9, ZhuQue-2E to launch during quiet week NASASpaceflight, 13 Oct 2026

Headlines via the Spaceflight News API.

Updates

• Launch success. source
• Liftoff. source
• Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started source
• Now targeting Oct 16 at 00:01 UTC source
• Now targeting Oct 15 at 23:57 UTC source
• GO for launch. source
• Added launch per marine navigation warnings. source