SpaceX to Launch USSF-385 Starshield Mission on September 26

SpaceX is set to launch the classified USSF-385 mission for the U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg's SLC-4E. The window opens September 26 at 4:56 a.m. PT, with a backup on September 27. The Falcon 9 will carry another batch of Starshield reconnaissance satellites into low Earth orbit for the NRO.

• Launch window opens Sept 26 at 4:56 a.m. PT; backup Sept 27 at 5:49 a.m. PT
• Booster B1100 flies for the tenth time and will land on a Pacific droneship
• Starshield is the Starlink variant for spy missions with Type 1 encryption and laser links
• Starshield satellites weigh about 750 kg and share the Starlink V2 Mini line