SpaceX is set to launch a classified national security mission, USSF-124, today from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch is scheduled within a four-hour window that opens at 5:30 p.m. EST. The Falcon 9 rocket will carry out this secretive mission for the U.S. Space Force, and viewers can watch the live action on Space.com or SpaceX’s account on X.
The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage is expected to return to Earth for a vertical touchdown at Cape Canaveral approximately eight minutes after liftoff. The webcast of the launch will conclude at this point, likely at the request of the Space Force. This particular booster has already completed six successful launches and landings, according to SpaceX.
The details surrounding USSF-124 remain shrouded in mystery. The Space Force had kept information about the mission under wraps until recently when it released a statement confirming its readiness to fly. The statement disclosed that USSF-124 will deploy six satellites into orbit, with two serving the Missile Defense Agency and four for the Space Development Agency. However, no specific information about the spacecraft or their intended orbital duties was provided.
Colonel Jim Horne, senior materiel leader for Space System Command’s Launch Execution Delta, emphasized the significance of national security launches in strengthening America’s capabilities and deterrence against growing threats. He stated, “It’s what we do in the Space Force, and we take that charge seriously.”
USSF-124 is part of a busy period in spaceflight. Tonight, SpaceX has another launch scheduled at 7:30 p.m. EST, where it plans to deploy 22 Starlink internet satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Following that, Russia will launch the Progress 87 freighter towards the International Space Station from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 10:25 p.m. EST. Additionally, SpaceX has plans to launch IM-1, a private moon-landing mission, on February 15 at 1:05 a.m. EST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, located next to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
As the countdown to the classified USSF-124 mission begins, space enthusiasts and national security observers eagerly await its launch. While the details of the mission remain undisclosed, the significance of strengthening America’s capabilities in the face of evolving threats cannot be underestimated. SpaceX continues to play a pivotal role in advancing space exploration and national security initiatives, solidifying its reputation as a leading private spaceflight company.
