SpaceX Launches NATO Satellite from Vandenberg SFB Tuesday

Update

SpaceX Falcon 9’s launch of OHB Italia’s NAOS mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base was successful on Tuesday, August 26, at 11:26 a.m.

“On board today’s mission is OHB Italia’s NAOS spacecraft as well as seven rideshare payloads for Exolaunch, Planet, and Dhruva Space. Shared missions are possible when additional performance is available on a mission, providing even more opportunities for spacecraft to get to orbit,” SpaceX stated.

To date, SpaceX has launched over 30 missions with rideshare payloads on board, sending more than 1,400 payloads to orbit across through their rideshare and shared launch opportunities.

Falcon 9 launches the NAOS mission to orbit from California pic.twitter.com/HM2T1G4gqn

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 26, 2025

Original Report

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying OHB Italia’s NAOS mission on Tuesday, August 26. The 27-minute launch window opens at 11:53 a.m. PT. 

Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg SFB, which will create a sonic boom in areas local to Vandenberg.

“VSFB’s down range sonic boom analysis indicates there will be no sonic boom heard over populated areas along the southern coast of California,” the base states.

OHB Italia is an Italy-based aerospace company. NAOS (National Advanced Optical System)  is designed for NATO governmental and military purposes, the high-resolution reconnaissance satellite will provide global coverage, being able to capture more than one hundred images per day.

Also on board this mission is Dhruva Space’s LEAP-1; Planet’s Pelican-3 and Pelican-4; and four payloads manifested by Exolaunch: Capella’s Acadia-6 and Pixxel’s FFLY-1, FFLY-2, and FFLY-3. 

A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch at https://www.spacex.com/launches/naos .

If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Wednesday, August 27 at the same time.