Success
Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission
Astrophysics
SpaceX(SpX)CommercialFalcon 9 Block 5
SSOorbit
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.
Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Replay
Flight Timeline
- T+01:12Max-Q
- T+02:15MECO
- T+02:18Stage 2 Separation
- T+02:22Stage 1 Flip
- T+02:26SES-1
- T+02:32Booster Boostback Burn Startup
- T+02:56Fairing Separation
- T+03:26Booster Boostback Burn Shutdown
- T+06:08Entry Burn Startup
- T+06:19Entry Burn Shutdown
- T+07:16Stage 1 Landing Burn
- T+07:34Stage 1 Landing
- T+08:09SECO-1
- T+56:55SES-2
- T+56:56SECO-2
- T+1:01:33Payload Deployment Sequence Start
- T+1:08:22Payload Deployment Sequence End
- T+1:43:04SES-3
- T+1:43:05SECO-3
- T+2:14:51SES-4
- T+2:14:52SECO-4
- T+2:19:56Payload Deployment Sequence Start
- T+2:32:59Payload Deployment Sequence End
Links
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#7,177
SpX Mission
#623
Pad Launch
#240
Location Launch
#854
Designator
2026-004
Launch Window
NET
Jan 11, 2026, 1:44 PM
Precision
Second
Schedule Changes
1 update
Lift Off
1:19 PM
Window Open
2:16 PM
Window Close
Falcon 9 Block 5 Specs
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.
Length
70 m
Diameter
3.65 m
Launch Mass
549 t
Thrust
7,607 kN
LEO Capacity
22,800 kg
GTO Capacity
8,300 kg
Launch Cost
$52M
Reusable
Yes
Maiden Flight
2018
Fastest Turnaround
1h 5m
Total Launches
586
Successful
585
Failed
1
Consecutive Success
288
Maiden flight: May 11, 2018
Social Flight Log
- Jan 11, 2026, 4:21 PM
All payloads deployed, launch successful.
Source - Jan 11, 2026, 1:45 PM
Liftoff
Source - Jan 11, 2026, 1:25 PM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Source - Jan 11, 2026, 4:55 AM
Tweaked T-0.
Source - Jan 11, 2026, 4:03 AM
Now targeting Jan 11 at 13:44 UTC
Source - Jan 10, 2026, 7:03 PM
Now targeting Jan 11 at 13:20 UTC
Source - Jan 7, 2026, 10:46 PM
GO for launch.
Source - Jan 2, 2026, 7:28 PM
NET January 11.
Source - Dec 30, 2025, 3:17 AM
NET January.
Source - Dec 9, 2025, 2:49 AM
Added launch. (launch date per https://bsky.app/profile/danielapai.bsky.social/post/3m4wrvazwz22s)
Source
Space Launch Complex 4E
Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) is a launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, U.S. The pad was previously used by Atlas and Titan rockets between 1963 and 2005. The pad was built for use by Atlas-Agena rockets, but was later rebuilt to handle Titan rockets.
Total Launches
269
Orbital Attempts
269
Fastest Turnaround
2d 10h
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.
Founded
2002
Administrator
CEO: Elon Musk
Total Launches
681
Successful
666
Failed
15
Pending
120
Consecutive Success
166
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
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.
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
Local Launch Time
Jan 11, 2026, 5:44 AM
Total Launches
885
Total Landings
34
Coordinates
34.7513, -120.5202