SpaceX launched a classified mission for the U.S. Space Force aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Wednesday.
The mission, designated USSF-259, lifted off at 6:07 p.m. local time on September 16. The U.S. Space Force has not disclosed details about the payload or its specific purpose.
The Falcon 9 used first-stage booster B1097, which completed its 13th flight. After separating from the upper stage, the booster successfully landed approximately eight and a half minutes after liftoff aboard SpaceX’s drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean.
USSF-259 is the second classified Space Force mission launched by SpaceX in less than a week. Another mission, USSF-153, launched from Vandenberg on September 10.
The Space Force has also declined to publicly disclose details about USSF-153 and other recent classified missions, including USSF-366.
