Falcon 9 launches classified USSF-481 from Vandenberg

On Oct. 15, 2026 at 5:01 p.m. PDT, which was 0001 UTC on Oct. 16, Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg SLC-4E on the U.S. Space Force USSF-481 mission. Spaceflight Now and Space.com report that booster B1081, on its 28th flight, landed on Of Course I Still Love You about eight minutes later. The payload was not disclosed. Spaceflight Now says public notices also call the mission TH-2 and that hazard warnings suggest a low Earth orbit near 80 degrees inclination.