SpaceX pulls off classified Space Force launch — 104th Falcon 9 flight this year
SpaceX launched the U.S. Space Force's classified USSF-153 mission from Vandenberg on Sept. 10 aboard Falcon 9's 104th flight of the year, sticking the booster landing — another sign of its expanding national-security launch business beyond Starlink.
SpaceX launched the classified USSF-153 mission for the U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on the morning of September 10 (around 15:43 UTC), using a Falcon 9 rocket. It marked the 104th Falcon 9 flight of the year and the 27th flight for the booster used, B1081, which landed safely on a droneship after the mission.
The mission itself is classified, so the payload's exact nature and destination orbit weren't disclosed. Classified national-security launches like this one are a growing part of SpaceX's government contract portfolio, distinct from its commercial Starlink business.
SpaceX (SPCX) shares reportedly edged modestly higher following the launch, though reported gains varied across sources, so this card doesn't cite a specific closing move.
There's no direct financial tie to Tesla, but the continued flow of defense and government launch contracts is a backdrop signal of revenue diversification and stability across Musk's broader business empire.
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