SpaceX launches 21 Transport Layer satellites for the Space Development Agency

SpaceX/Falcon 9 & Falcon Heavy

A Falcon 9 launched 21 Northrop Grumman-built Transport Layer satellites for the Space Development Agency from Vandenberg early on October 10, 2026. It is the fourth Tranche 1 mission and the satellites belong to the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. The booster landed at Landing Zone 4 about 7.5 minutes after liftoff, after an earlier attempt on October 5 was called off.

• Mission Tranche 1 Transport Layer A (T1TL-A) flew on booster B1103, on its sixth flight, from Space Launch Complex 4E.
• The October 5 attempt was halted by an automatic abort 58 seconds before liftoff over "off-nominal data on Stage Two".
• The landing was the 37th at Landing Zone 4 and the 668th Falcon booster landing overall.
• Tranche 1 is planned to include 126 Transport Layer satellites, 28 Tracking Layer satellites and four missile-defense demonstration spacecraft.
• Operational capabilities from the constellation are expected to begin in 2027.