GO! - SpaceX - Falcon 9 - NROL-179 - SLC-4E - Vandenberg SFB - Space Affairs Live

Launch Date: June 18, 2026 Launch Time: 1:54 a.m. PDT, 0854 UTC, 10:54 CEST Launch Window: Open until 2:29 a.m. PDT Launch Site: SLC-4E - Vandenberg Space Force Base, California Targeted Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Launch Inclination: Southeast Launch Status: Scheduled and announced Mission: Starlink NROL-179 Launch Provider: SpaceX Launch Contractor: National Reconnaissance Office United States (with Space Launch Delta 30 and the US-Space Force) Launcher System: Falcon 9 (Booster 1103 - Turnaround time 29 days) Flight for the Booster: 3 Previous Flights of the Booster: 2 Starlink Missions Booster Landing: Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4), Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA Price: $74 million (without payload) Diameter: 3,7 m Height: 70 meters Payload to Orbit: 22,800 LEO / 8,300 GTO Lift-Off Thrust: 7,607 kilonewtons Fairing: Diameter 5,2 meters / Height 13 meters Stages: 2 SpaceX is targeting Thursday, June 18 for a Falcon 9 launch of the NROL-179 mission from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The 35-minute launch window opens at 1:54 a.m. PDT with a backup opportunity available at 1:40 a.m. PDT on Friday, June 19. This will be the third flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what they experience will depend on weather and other conditions. You will find more information about the trajectory and data on the day of the launch here: https://flightclub.io/live Countdown Hr/Min/Sec Event 00:38:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load 00:35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins 00:35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins 00:16:00 2nd stage LOX loading begins 00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch 00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks 00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins 00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch 00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start 00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff