USSF-317

Thu, Nov 12 · 11:23 PM ETConfirmed

Mission brief

What is happening

SpaceX is launching USSF-317 on a Falcon 9 Block 5 from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA. It is a classified government mission heading to Low Earth Orbit. The first stage, B1100, is flying for the 11th time, and will attempt a droneship at sea.

Why it matters

Details of classified national security payloads are withheld, so the mission profile is usually only partly published and coverage often ends early.

What stands out

Classified payload

At a glance

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Payload: USSF-317
Mission type: Government/Top Secret
Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5
Provider: SpaceX
Booster: B1100 · flight 11
Landing: Droneship at sea
Launch site: Space Launch Complex 4E

A classified mission for the United States Space Force. It is possibly a batch of classified LEO satellites based on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite bus, based on locations of rocket stage drop zones being exact fits with previous Starlink Group 15 launches.

What changed

Every change to this schedule, logged as it happened. Most trackers only ever show you today's date.

NOV 3 · 11:45 PM UTC
Livestream added
Detected by RocketRune
NOV 3 · 11:45 PM UTC
Mission renamed to USSF-317
Detected by RocketRune
NOV 3 · 11:45 PM UTC
Confirmed go for launch
Detected by RocketRune

3 more entries in the full history of this launch. RocketRune Pro shows every change and every dated note.

Schedule confidence

HIGH

The published time looks firm.

Why does RocketRune rate it this way?

Launch time published to the minute.
The provider has declared the mission go for launch.
An official launch window has been published.
No schedule changes recorded since RocketRune began tracking this launch.

This is a RocketRune assessment of how firm the published schedule is, not a prediction of launch success. It is calculated from the date precision and status published by the launch provider, plus the schedule changes RocketRune has recorded for this mission.

Where you can see it

BEST NEARBY VIEW

Lompoc

Excellent · Look almost straight up

Nearly overhead, 85° above your horizon
Night launch, no lit plume but maximum contrast
9 miles to the pad, west

City	Distance	Look	Elevation
LompocCalifornia	9 mi	overhead	85°
Santa BarbaraCalifornia	54 mi	west-northwest	59°
BakersfieldCalifornia	104 mi	west-southwest	41°
Los AngelesCalifornia	141 mi	west-northwest	32°
San DiegoCalifornia	239 mi	northwest	19°

Direction and elevation are calculated from the pad position and the published launch time. Cloud cover is not included here because a forecast changes faster than this page updates. The live tracker scores the sky over your own location.

Launch site: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 5
Provider: SpaceX
Orbit: LEO
Payload: USSF-317
Status: Go for Launch
Booster: B1100
Landing: Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship
Vehicle height: 70 m
Liftoff thrust: 7,607 kN
Vehicle type flights: 644
Vehicle type success rate: 99.8%

Can you see this launch from where you are?

RocketRune works out the direction to look, how high the rocket will sit in your sky, the cloud forecast over you and whether the plume will be lit, then scores it out of 100.

Open the live tracker

Other upcoming launches

See the full launch schedule