SpaceX Launches Classified USSF-153 Mission from Vandenberg

SpaceX launched the classified USSF-153 mission for the U.S. Space Force at 11:42 a.m. EDT (8:42 a.m. PDT / 15:42 UTC) on September 10, 2026, from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The Falcon 9 first-stage booster, flying its 27th mission after previously supporting Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, Transporter-10, EarthCARE, NROL-186, Transporter-13, TRACERS, NROL-48, COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM3, and 16 Starlink missions, landed on the droneship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Pacific roughly 8.5 minutes after liftoff — the 660th Falcon booster landing in SpaceX history (224th on that vessel). USSF-153 was SpaceX's 104th Falcon 9 launch of 2026. As with most national security missions, Space Systems Command disclosed no payload details ('specific details about the mission and payload are protected'), though the rocket's stage drop zones matched prior Starlink Group 15 launches, suggesting the payload may be built on SpaceX's hardened Starshield satellite bus.