SpaceX is preparing to launch a classified mission for the United States Space Force on Monday, November 2, sending an undisclosed payload into orbit from California’s central coast.
The mission, designated USSF-432, is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The four-hour launch window opens at 5:42 p.m. PT (8:42 p.m. ET), according to SpaceX’s current listings reported by Starlust and News Zest.
When is the USSF-432 launch?
SpaceX is targeting Monday, November 2, for liftoff, with a backup opportunity on Tuesday, November 3, opening at 5:28 p.m. PT if the first attempt is scrubbed. In other time zones, the November 2 window opens at 1:42 a.m. UTC on November 3, or about 6:42 a.m. PKT on November 3.
Launch times can shift, and SpaceX’s own launch page and X account are the final word before liftoff. SpaceX plans to stream the launch on its website and X account, with the webcast beginning about 10 minutes before liftoff. As with the previous classified mission, the livestream is expected to end shortly after liftoff.
What is USSF-432 carrying?
That is not public. SpaceX has released no details about the payload, and the Space Force rarely adds detail to missions of this kind. Launch listings describe it as a classified mission to low Earth orbit, and reports have linked the broader programme to Space Force sensing and targeting task orders — but the satellite or satellites on this flight, and their purpose, have not been confirmed.
What is confirmed is the ride: a Falcon 9 rocket whose first-stage booster is making its eighth flight. The booster previously launched a GPS III mission and six Starlink missions, according to SpaceX’s mission description. After stage separation, it is scheduled to land on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
Residents in California’s Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, SpaceX has said.
Why this launch matters
USSF-432 is reported to be the 119th Falcon 9 mission of 2026, continuing a rapid launch cadence from Vandenberg. SpaceX completed its 118th Falcon 9 flight of the year on October 31, launching 27 Starlink satellites from the same pad, and flew the previous classified mission, USSF-481, from California on October 16.
Classified national-security launches are a small but regular part of that cadence. They are also the least transparent: unlike a Starlink or science mission, there is no public payload briefing, no announced orbit beyond broad listings, and no second-stage footage. The confirmed facts here are the rocket, the pad, the window and the recovery plan — everything about the cargo itself remains undisclosed by design.
What to watch for next
The next updates will be the launch itself, confirmation of booster landing, and any SpaceX statement that the mission was successful. If the November 2 window is scrubbed, the backup window on November 3 becomes the next target. This article will be updated if SpaceX changes the window or confirms the outcome.
Frequently asked questions
What time does USSF-432 launch? The four-hour window opens at 5:42 p.m. PT on November 2 (8:42 p.m. ET; 1:42 a.m. UTC on November 3).
Where does USSF-432 launch from? Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on a SpaceX Falcon 9.
What is the USSF-432 payload? It is classified and undisclosed. SpaceX has not published details about the satellite, its owner within the Space Force, or its orbit.
Where can I watch the USSF-432 launch? SpaceX plans to stream it on its website and X account, with coverage starting about 10 minutes before liftoff.
Sources
- Starlust — SpaceX gears up to launch classified USSF-432 mission on November 2
- News Zest — SpaceX USSF-432 Launch: Falcon 9’s 119th Flight of 2026
- NASA Spaceflight — Launch Preview: Falcon 9 and GSLV rockets scheduled to launch
- NextLaunch — Vandenberg Launch Schedule (USSF-432 listing)
