Fresh off a record-shattering launch cadence in 2025, SpaceX successfully launched its first rideshare mission of 2026 from Space Launch Complex-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base on the central California coast. This rideshare was the first of its kind for SpaceX, and not part of the Transporter or Bandwagon series.
The Twilight rideshare mission, including NASA’s Pandora exoplanet characterization mission, flew on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 5:44 AM PST (13:44 UTC), during the middle of a 57 minute window that lasted until 6:16 AM PST (14:16 UTC). A backup window on Monday, Jan. 12, with the same timings, would have been available if needed.
Booster 1097, on its fifth flight, conducted a return to launch site maneuver before touching down safely at Landing Zone 4, which is next door to the pad where the booster will fly. Prior to Twilight, B1097 flew the Sentinel-6B and three Starlink missions, all from California.