[REVISION HISTORY]

SpaceX and US Space Force satellite launch cooperation

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2026-08-16 10:20 UTC → 2026-08-16 22:25 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The U.S. Space Force has entered into a $1.6 billion contract with SpaceX to conduct 18 Falcon 9 launches through the end of 2027. Issued under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 program, these missions are intended to deploy Pentagon-owned satellites for space-based sensing, targeting, and the new Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator (SB-AMTI) system to improve threat detection. On August 15, 2026, SpaceX set a new company record for the shortest interval between orbital ~~flights~~ launches by ~~launching~~ conducting two Falcon 9 ~~rockets~~ missions just 38 38.5 minutes apart. The dual launches were executed from opposite coasts of the United States. The first ~~launch occurred at~~ mission launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, deploying eight Globalstar satellites developed by MDA Space to support ~~emergency communication networks.~~ direct-to-device and IoT communications. The ~~mission’s~~ first-stage ~~booster~~ booster, B1090, successfully ~~returned to Landing Zone 40~~ landed at Cape Canaveral for its 14th flight. Shortly after, a second Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base for the USSF-366 mission. This classified U.S. Space Force operation involved a payload that observers ~~noted~~ suggest may involve Starshield ~~satellite~~ technology. The booster for this ~~second launch successfully~~ mission, B1088, completed its 18th flight and landed on ~~a SpaceX drone ship~~ the autonomous droneship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ in the Pacific ~~Ocean, marking its 18th mission.~~ Ocean. This successful recovery marked the 650th Falcon booster landing in SpaceX history.

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