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Space Development Agency

Next launch for this agency

🚀SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer C with SpaceX

SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer C via SpaceX

Commercial • USA

Space Launch Complex 4E

Vandenberg Space Force Base

Oct 14 at 04:12pm

Launchpad time•-0800

Oct 14 at 11:12pm

Your local time•+0000

Current status

Go for Launch

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launch vehicle

SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer C

Mission

34.632

Latitude

-120.611

Longitude

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24 hours before launch

Get notification

1 hour before launch

Note: For all launches the scheduled launch dates and times are subject to change due to weather, equipment, crew and other factors.

Mission description

Tranche 1 Transport Layer C is one of six missions by the United States Space Force Space Development Agency (SDA) for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer constellation, which will provide assured, resilient, low-latency military data and connectivity worldwide to the full range of warfighter platforms from Low Earth Orbit satellites. The constellation will be interconnected with Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISLs) which have significantly increased performance over existing radio frequency crosslinks. It is expected to operate over Ka band, have stereo coverage and be dynamically networked for simpler hand-offs, greater bandwidth and fault tolerance. This launch carries 21 satellites manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

— SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer C

Image Gallery

Livestream

Space live streams

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Attending a launch in person

Viewing from the launch site is restricted to military and base personnel.

Public locations around the base provide excellent views, depending on weather.

Surf Beach: Best option for all launchpads if the marine layer keeps west, otherwise you'll get a poor view. Fills up fast on launch day. Closed from March to September to protect local wildlife and in the other months it'll sometimes be closed depending on launch trajectory.

Corral Road: Good option for SLC-2. The semi-official viewing area. 8 kilometers away.

13th & W Ocean Ave: Good option for the southern pads. The hills and marine layer obstruct your view a bit but this is the closest you'll get, it's just outside the security checkpoint. There are a few other good intersections along W Ocean Ave (notably Renwick & W Ocean Ave).

Harris Grade Road: Alternative angle for all pads. It's up high on a hill and above the marine layer so you'll always have a view but it's much further away at 17 kilometers.

How to get there

Rental car is easiest. Vandenberg Space Force Base is approximately 2.5-hours drive northwest of Los Angeles International Airport or 4 hours drive south of San Francisco International Airport. Note that although Vandenberg Space Force Base hosts commercial space launches it is primarily a military base and public access is limited.

Accomodation

Nearby hotels in Lompoc or Santa Maria.

Nearby parking

Parking available at the visitor center.

Agency details