Startabbruch: SpaceX bricht Falcon-9-Raketenstart aus Kalifornien für die Space Development Agenc...
Video from the channel Spaceflight Now about Falcon 9, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 40:05. Language: English. Video type: Livestream.
What is being broadcast
Spaceflight Now live broadcast, with commentary by Will Robinson-Smith, of the launch attempt of a Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, in the early hours of October 5, 2026. Liftoff was scheduled for 1:18 a.m. Pacific time (8:18 UTC). The mission, T1TL-A, carried 21 satellites built by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Space Force's Space Development Agency. They are the fourth batch of the Transport Layer of Tranche 1 of the PWSA space architecture, a low-Earth-orbit constellation intended to provide secure, persistent communications for U.S. forces and their allies.
Key moments
The commentator reviews the mission's background: the three manufacturers of the Transport Layer, previous flights with satellites from York Space Systems and Lockheed Martin, and the NSSL Phase 2 contract, awarded in August 2020, from which this SpaceX task order stems. He explains the grey band on the second stage, typical of missions with long coast phases, and details the loading sequence of RP-1 kerosene, liquid oxygen and helium, the chilldown of the nine Merlin 1D engines, and the retraction of the strongback, which tilts about 13 degrees. The first stage, B1103, was set to make its sixth flight and land at Landing Zone 4. Both payload fairing halves were on their second flight. Weather was favorable, with no chance of adverse conditions, and the agency had requested no footage of the upper stage be broadcast.
Outcome
The Falcon 9 entered its automated startup sequence, but the system aborted the countdown at T-58 seconds, with no reason given. SpaceX stated that the rocket and payload were in good condition and set a new attempt for October 6, in the same window. The commentator notes possible causes, such as a range violation or a ground-side issue, without confirming any, and closes the broadcast.