Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission
Falcon 9 Block 5
SpaceX
Rocket Launch Videos
Weather Forecast During Launch
The forecast calls for a temperature of 42°F, few clouds, 20% cloud cover and a wind speed of 7mph.
Trajectory
View comprehensive details including the rocket's trajectory, velocity, altitude, thrust, and more at FlightClub.io.
Rocket Launch Timeline
Enhance your rocket launch experience with a detailed timeline! From pre-launch preparations to post-launch milestones, a well-structured schedule ensures every step—payload prep, safety checks, and liftoff—runs smoothly. Stay informed and follow the action with precision.
| T+ 00 : 01 : 12 | Max-Q Maximum dynamic pressure |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 15 | MECO Cut-off of the main engine |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 18 | Stage 2 Separation Separation of the second stage from the first |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 22 | Stage 1 Flip Flip maneuver of the first stage |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 26 | SES-1 First start of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 32 | Booster Boostback Burn Startup Start of the booster boostback burn |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 56 | Fairing Separation Separation of the payload fairing |
| T+ 00 : 03 : 26 | Booster Boostback Burn Shutdown End of the booster boostback burn |
| T+ 00 : 06 : 08 | Entry Burn Startup Start of the atmospheric entry burn |
| T+ 00 : 06 : 19 | Entry Burn Shutdown End of the atmospheric entry burn |
| T+ 00 : 07 : 16 | Stage 1 Landing Burn Start of the first stage landing burn |
| T+ 00 : 07 : 34 | Stage 1 Landing Landing of the first stage |
| T+ 00 : 08 : 09 | SECO-1 First cut-off of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 56 : 55 | SES-2 Second start of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 56 : 56 | SECO-2 Second cut-off of the second engine |
| T+ 01 : 01 : 33 | Payload Deployment Sequence Start Start of the payload deployment sequence |
| T+ 01 : 08 : 22 | Payload Deployment Sequence End End of the payload deployment sequence. |
| T+ 01 : 43 : 04 | SES-3 Third start of the second engine |
| T+ 01 : 43 : 05 | SECO-3 Third cut-off of the second engine |
| T+ 02 : 14 : 51 | SES-4 Fourth start of the second engine |
| T+ 02 : 14 : 52 | SECO-4 Fourth cut-off of the second engine |
| T+ 02 : 19 : 56 | Payload Deployment Sequence Start Start of the payload deployment sequence |
| T+ 02 : 32 : 59 | Payload Deployment Sequence End End of the payload deployment sequence. |
Mission
Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission
- Type: Astrophysics
- Orbit: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
- Launch Cost: $52,000,000
The Pandora small satellite was selected in 2021 as an inaugural mission in NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers Program. It includes a 0.45-meter telescope that will improve our understanding of exoplanet atmospheres by disentangling exoplanet signals from their host stars, as well as studying host star variability with long-duration observations of 20 unique planets through visible-light photometry and near-infrared spectroscopy.
Also launching on this launch are 39 other ride-share payloads under the "Falcon 9 Twilight mission" manifested by Exolaunch, including satellites from Spire Global and Kepler Communications.
Location
Space Launch Complex 4E
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Find the best place to watch the launch from Vandenberg
Space Launch Complex 4E has witnessed the launch of 244 rockets, including 244 orbital launch attempts. While Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, has been the site for 858 rocket launches.
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
Rocket
SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5
Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.
Landing
Core B1097
The Falcon 9 first stage B1097 has landed on Landing Zone 4 after its 5th flight. Booster B1097 last launched 01/25/2026 and has seen 6 successful launches and landings. Falcon 9 booster.
A sonic boom is likely to occur a few minutes after launch as the booster returns to the launch site. Be prepared for a loud but thrilling experience! Learn more about rocket launch sonic booms
Landing Zone 4 - LZ-4
LZ at Vandenberg
Return to Launch Site - RTLS
A return to launch site usually means that after stage separation the booster flips and does a burn back towards the launch site, landing near where it initially launched from.
Agency
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.
Everyone on the block tenses up for those stupid booms. I have had my mothers blessed Mother statue fall off my dresser and break. Glued together now.. it’s just so sad how little we all really matter.
SpaceX was given approval to launch more rockets from Vandenberg. It is not going to get better. Time to move from the launch pads.
I agree!!! I wished they’d consider the impact it’s having on our community. What about those with PTSD, children with sensory issues, or elderly with dementia? I also worry about the long-term effects on our environment and wildlife.
Too early to see from Phoenix I believe