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SpaceX Sets Overnight Vandenberg Rideshare to Launch South Korea’s CAS500-2

The flight highlights how rideshare launches now carry international satellites that moved off Russian rockets after war delays.

Overview

  • The Falcon 9 launch window opens at 11:59 p.m. PDT Saturday at Vandenberg with a 37-minute opportunity and a backup at the same time 24 hours later.
  • The rocket will carry 45 satellites, led by South Korea’s CAS500-2 Earth‑imaging craft built by Korea Aerospace Industries for a sun‑synchronous orbit.
  • First stage B1071 is slated to make its 33rd flight and land back at Landing Zone 4, which could produce sonic booms along California’s Central Coast.
  • Most secondary payloads were arranged by Exolaunch, including Argotec HEO microsats for Italy’s IRIDE constellation, Loft and EarthDaily craft, a True Anomaly Jackal, Planet Pelican satellites, Lynk towers, and India’s GalaxEye Drishti.
  • The West Coast mission follows a recent Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral that flew 29 V2 Mini satellites and targeted a droneship recovery, highlighting SpaceX’s rapid cadence on both coasts.