SPACEX

Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A

GO Falcon 9 →
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—
Oct 5, 2026 at 08:17 UTC
Polar Orbit Government/Top Secret Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA 100% success
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Mission Control3D trajectory · Live telemetry · AI narrator · Booster tracking
PADSpace Launch Complex 4E
SITEVandenberg SFB, CA, USA →
ORBITPolar Orbit
TYPEGovernment/Top Secret

Tranche 1 Transport Layer A is one of six missions by the United States Space Force Space Development Agency (SDA) for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer constellation, which will provide assured, resilient, low-latency military data and connectivity worldwide to the full range of warfighter platforms from Low Earth Orbit satellites.

The constellation will be interconnected with Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISLs) which have significantly increased performance over existing radio frequency crosslinks. It is expected to operate over Ka band, have stereo coverage and be dynamically networked for simpler hand-offs, greater bandwidth and fault tolerance.

This launch carries 21 satellites manufactured by Northrop Grumman.

VEHICLE
Falcon 9
AGENCY
SpaceX
MISSION
SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A
MISSION TYPE
Government/Top Secret
TARGET ORBIT
Polar Orbit
COUNTRY
USA
CONFIRMEDPrecision: Half-year
LAUNCH LIBRARY 2 PRIMARY
API ID: da43dc2c-00af-4cc1-8ef1-90a60b2eb9e5
Reported date: Oct 5, 2026 at 08:17 UTC
Last synced: 4 minutes ago
SPACEX API
Cross-referenced with community SpaceX data
This launch date and time are confirmed by the launch provider. Countdown is active.
SCHEDULE & STATUS HISTORY
STATUS CHANGESep 30, 2026 at 16:03 UTC
TBC → GO
Source: Launch Library 2
DELAYED(0.2 hrs)
Sep 30, 2026 at 16:03 UTC
Oct 5, 2026 08:06 → Oct 5, 2026 08:16 UTC
Source: Launch Library 2
STATUS CHANGESep 25, 2026 at 21:08 UTC
TBD → TBC
Source: Launch Library 2
MOVED UP(25.7 days)
Sep 25, 2026 at 21:08 UTC
Oct 31, 2026 00:00 → Oct 5, 2026 08:06 UTC
Source: Launch Library 2
DELAYED(31 days)
Sep 18, 2026 at 02:33 UTC
Sep 30, 2026 00:00 → Oct 31, 2026 00:00 UTC
Source: Launch Library 2
DELAYED(92 days)
Jun 19, 2026 at 15:38 UTC
Jun 30, 2026 00:00 → Sep 30, 2026 00:00 UTC
Source: Launch Library 2
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#6THIS FLIGHT
5TOTAL FLIGHTS
5/5LANDINGS
54dTURNAROUND
FLIGHT-PROVEN BOOSTER
RTLS — Landing Zone 4 PLANNED
First flight: Apr 7, 2026Previous flight: Aug 12, 2026
MANUFACTURER
SpaceX
VARIANT
Block 5
FLIGHTS
636
SUCCESSES
635
SUCCESS RATE
99.8%

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.

When is the Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A launch?
The Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A is scheduled for Monday, October 5, 2026 at 8:17 AM UTC. This is the NET (No Earlier Than) time and may be subject to change. Current status: GO.
What rocket is being used for SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A?
The Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A mission uses the Falcon 9 rocket, manufactured by SpaceX. The Falcon 9 has flown 636 times with a 99.8% success rate.
Where is the Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A launching from?
The launch takes place from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit is SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A going to?
The SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A mission is targeting Polar Orbit.
Who is launching SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A?
The Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A is operated by SpaceX.
Can I watch the Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A launch live?
Yes. Visit the launch detail page on Space Launch Live for embedded YouTube webcasts, replay videos, and links to live coverage from SpaceX, NASA, NASASpaceflight, and other channels.
Sep 30, 2026 16:23 UTC
Launch status set to GO for launch
Updated via Launch Library 2
Sep 30, 2026 16:03 UTC
Launch delayed by 0.2 hours
Oct 5, 2026 08:06 UTC u2192 Oct 5, 2026 08:16 UTC (via Launch Library 2)
Sep 30, 2026 16:03 UTC
Status changed: TBC u2192 GO
Launch GO for launch (via Launch Library 2)
Sep 25, 2026 21:08 UTC
Launch moved up by 25.7 days
Oct 31, 2026 00:00 UTC u2192 Oct 5, 2026 08:06 UTC (via Launch Library 2)
Sep 25, 2026 21:08 UTC
Status changed: TBD u2192 TBC
Launch TBC (via Launch Library 2)
Sep 18, 2026 02:33 UTC
Launch delayed by 31 days
Sep 30, 2026 00:00 UTC u2192 Oct 31, 2026 00:00 UTC (via Launch Library 2)
Jun 19, 2026 15:38 UTC
Launch delayed by 92 days
Jun 30, 2026 00:00 UTC u2192 Sep 30, 2026 00:00 UTC (via Launch Library 2)
May 1, 2026 13:43 UTC
Launch added to tracker
Imported from Launch Library 2 API
May 1, 2026 13:43 UTC
Launch date set: Oct 5, 2026 at 08:16 UTC
NET (No Earlier Than) confirmed by SpaceX
Last data sync: 4 minutes ago
●Launch Library 24 minutes ago
Launch ID: da43dc2c-00af-4cc1-8ef1-90a60b2eb9e5
●Open-Meteo Weather2 weeks ago
Pad weather at 34.63, -120.61

Mission Profile

SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A is a Falcon 9 Block 5 mission operated by SpaceX set to lift off from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on October 5, 2026. The flight is tasked with delivering its payload on a government/top secret mission to Polar Orbit. The first stage, booster B1103, is making its 6th flight, returning to service just 54 days after its previous mission.