Oct. 15 (UPI) -- SpaceX on Wednesday launched 21 satellites from California for the U.S. military's Space Development Agency.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 4:06 p.m. PDT from Vandenberg Space Force Base's Pad 4E. About 8 1/2 minutes later, the first stage landed on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. This booster was used seven times previously, including the first Tranche 1 Transport launch on Sept. 10 with 21 satellites.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/WSjMOsMjK6— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 15, 2025
The satellites are part of the SDA's Tranche 1 Transport Layer of eventually 126 oritals in low-Earth orbit that "will provide global communications access and deliver persistent regional encrypted connectivity in support of warfighter missions around the globe," according to SDA.
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