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Transporter 18

· Falcon 9 · Vandenberg, California

T−02Days:13Hours:53Min:24Sec
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Webcast starts

01

Mission

Dedicated rideshare flight to a sun-synchronous orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.

Falcon 9 will launch Transporter 18 from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This is the 25th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, B1082, which previously launched Starlink 15-22. Following stage separation, the first stage will return to Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4).

Mission briefing from SpaceX

SpaceX is targeting Thursday, October 1 for Falcon 9’s launch of the Transporter-18 mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The 58-minute launch window opens at 11:18 a.m. PT. If needed, there is a backup opportunity on Friday, October 2 at the same time.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX.

This will be the 25th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched USSF-62, OneWeb Launch 20, NROL-145, and 21 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Transporter-18 is a dedicated smallsat rideshare mission. There are 130 payloads on this flight, including cubesats, microsats, hosted payloads, and two spacecraft with reentry vehicles and four orbital transfer vehicles carrying 41 of those payloads to be deployed at a later time. To date, SpaceX has launched more than 1,800 payloads to orbit across our entire Rideshare program.

There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.

Liftoff
11:18 PDT at the pad
Window
– 58 min
Webcast
Rocket
Falcon 9 Block 5 · SpaceX
Destination
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Launch site
Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg, California 62nd launch from this pad in 2026, 5 days after the previous
Latest update
GO for launch.

1h5min

Mission duration

58min

Launch window

25th

Flight of B1082

115th

SpaceX launch of 2026

02

Countdown

All times approximate · shown in your time zone, CEST · Timeline: SpaceX

  1. T−00:38:00SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
  2. T−00:35:00RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
  3. T−00:35:001st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins1st stage
  4. T−00:16:002nd stage LOX loading begins2nd stage
  5. T−00:07:00Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
  6. T−00:01:00Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
  7. T−00:01:00Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
  8. T−00:00:45SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
  9. T−00:00:03Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
  10. T−00:00:00Falcon 9 liftoff

03

Mission profile

From liftoff to landing

Mission profile of Transporter 18, from liftoff to landing
Graphic: SpaceXFull resolution

04

Flight

All times approximate · shown in your time zone, CEST · Timeline: SpaceX

  1. T+00:01:05Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
  2. T+00:02:151st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)1st stage
  3. T+00:02:181st and 2nd stages separate
  4. T+00:02:262nd stage engine starts (SES-1)2nd stage
  5. T+00:02:31Boostback burn starts1st stage
  6. T+00:02:55Fairing separation2nd stage
  7. T+00:03:25Boostback burn ends1st stage
  8. T+00:06:041st stage entry burn begins1st stage
  9. T+00:06:131st stage entry burn ends1st stage
  10. T+00:07:081st stage landing burn begins1st stage
  11. T+00:07:251st stage landing1st stage
  12. T+00:08:262nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)2nd stage
  13. T+00:51:032nd stage engine starts (SES-2)2nd stage
  14. T+00:51:072nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)2nd stage
  15. T+00:54:2271 payloads deploy over 11 minPayload
  16. T+00:54:22SPRITE deploys, manifested by NASAPayload
  17. T+00:54:25UASAT-NANO deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  18. T+00:54:28Sateliot_6 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  19. T+00:54:32GHGSAT C19 Aidan deploys, manifested by SFLPayload
  20. T+00:54:35Flock 4J-18 deploys, manifested by SEOPSPayload
  21. T+00:54:38GOMX-5 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  22. T+00:54:45GHGSAT C18 Eleanor deploys, manifested by SFLPayload
  23. T+00:54:51CRIMSON-1 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  24. T+00:54:54KENSAT deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  25. T+00:55:04JACK-006 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  26. T+00:55:14LEMUR-2-MDQURESHI deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  27. T+00:55:18GYEONGGISat-2A deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  28. T+00:55:21Sateliot_5 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  29. T+00:55:31Flock 4J-17 deploys, manifested by SEOPSPayload
  30. T+00:55:34GPDM deploys, manifested by NASAPayload
  31. T+00:55:40LEMUR-2-VARUN deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  32. T+00:55:44Watchdog v0-A deploys, manifested by Maverick Space SystemsPayload
  33. T+00:55:53Sateliot_8 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  34. T+00:56:03Sateliot_7 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  35. T+00:56:07Tomorrow-S12 deploys, manifested by Tomorrow.io Companies Inc.Payload
  36. T+00:56:15FOREST-20 Araucaria deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  37. T+00:56:18LEMUR-2-WHITEHOTCREW deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  38. T+00:56:21GuaraniSat-2 deploys, manifested by SEOPSPayload
  39. T+00:56:31AE4La deploys, manifested by SEOPSPayload
  40. T+00:56:44BRO-23 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  41. T+00:56:48IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET-2-21 deploys, manifested by OHB ItaliaPayload
  42. T+00:56:55eLEAF-01 deploys, manifested by SEOPSPayload
  43. T+00:56:55Blackwing Space Baby Bird deploys, manifested by SEOPSPayload
  44. T+00:56:59Tomorrow-S13 deploys, manifested by Tomorrow.io Companies Inc.Payload
  45. T+00:57:12IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET-2-24 deploys, manifested by OHB ItaliaPayload
  46. T+00:57:23Watchdog v0-MK deploys, manifested by Maverick Space SystemsPayload
  47. T+00:57:26IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET-2-18 deploys, manifested by OHB ItaliaPayload
  48. T+00:57:36Newsat-64 deploys, manifested by SatellogicPayload
  49. T+00:57:41HERMES deploys, manifested by SEOPSPayload
  50. T+00:57:52IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET-2-20 deploys, manifested by OHB ItaliaPayload
  51. T+00:57:56Newsat-56 deploys, manifested by SatellogicPayload
  52. T+00:58:00IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET-2-22 deploys, manifested by OHB ItaliaPayload
  53. T+00:58:07IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET-2-17 deploys, manifested by OHB ItaliaPayload
  54. T+00:58:12IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET-2-23 deploys, manifested by OHB ItaliaPayload
  55. T+00:58:27Sateliot_9 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  56. T+00:58:38Terra Nova deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  57. T+00:58:41DHRUVA SPACE LEAP-2 deploys, manifested by DHRUVA SPACE PRIVATE LIMITEDPayload
  58. T+00:58:44Merlin-1 deploys, manifested by SatellogicPayload
  59. T+00:58:50MERIDIAN FCL deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  60. T+00:59:05IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET-2-19 deploys, manifested by OHB ItaliaPayload
  61. T+00:59:19BRO-32 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  62. T+00:59:23Newsat-57 deploys, manifested by SatellogicPayload
  63. T+00:59:28ION SCV Absolute Andreas deploys, manifested by D-OrbitPayload
  64. T+00:59:31GNOMES-10 via Muon Space deploys, manifested by Muon SpacePayload
  65. T+00:59:40ICEYE-2 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  66. T+00:59:54Athene 1 Seranis Mission deploys, manifested by OHB Orbital AccessPayload
  67. T+01:00:05ION SCV Empowering Ekaterina deploys, manifested by D-OrbitPayload
  68. T+01:00:22ICEYE-3 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  69. T+01:00:26OSSIE deploys, manifested by UARX SpacePayload
  70. T+01:00:31ICEYE-4 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  71. T+01:00:34BOB deploys, manifested by D-Orbit S.p.A.Payload
  72. T+01:00:57F2G1 deploys, manifested by BAE SystemsPayload
  73. T+01:01:00KEVIN deploys, manifested by D-Orbit S.p.A.Payload
  74. T+01:01:25Project Suncatcher M1 deploys, manifested by Planet LabsPayload
  75. T+01:01:32Tanager-2 deploys, manifested by Planet LabsPayload
  76. T+01:01:39STUART deploys, manifested by D-Orbit S.p.A.Payload
  77. T+01:02:10ION SCV Alluring Alexander deploys, manifested by D-OrbitPayload
  78. T+01:02:21Altair-1 deploys, manifested by Loft OrbitalPayload
  79. T+01:03:02Element-1 deploys, manifested by CesiumAstroPayload
  80. T+01:03:06SSPICY Otter deploys, manifested by Starfish SpacePayload
  81. T+01:03:24Reason-1 deploys, manifested by Cowboy Space CorporationPayload
  82. T+01:04:05HotSat-3 deploys, manifested by Global SatelliteVu Ltd.Payload
  83. T+01:04:30ICEYE-1 deploys, manifested by ExolaunchPayload
  84. T+01:04:51Star Catcher Protostar deploys, manifested by Star CatcherPayload
  85. T+01:04:56W-9 deploys, manifested by Varda Space IndustriesPayload
  86. T+01:05:15W-8 deploys, manifested by Varda Space IndustriesPayload

05

Falcon 9 Block 5

SpaceX · Reusable · 634 flights, 633 successful, first flown May 2018

  • BoosterB1082 · 25th flight · previously Starlink Group 15-22 · Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4)
About Falcon 9 Block 5

Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.

70m

Height

3.7m

Diameter

549t

Mass at liftoff

23t

Payload to low Earth orbit

7,607kN

Thrust at liftoff

06

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