SpaceX launches Transporter-18 rideshare mission with 130 payloads from Vandenberg

SpaceX launched its Transporter-18 rideshare mission on a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Oct. 1, sending 130 payloads to orbit as part of the company’s smallsat Transporter program.

The launch was confirmed in posts from SpaceX, Spaceflight Now, and NASASpaceflight, with Spaceflight Now describing liftoff from Vandenberg through the fog and calling it SpaceX’s second orbital flight of the day.

According to Spaceflight Now’s livestream listing, the mission used Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1082 for its 25th flight. The same listing said Spaceflight Now’s live commentary was set to begin about 30 minutes before liftoff.

The first stage also appeared to make it back to the launch site area. Spaceflight Now’s launch listing said the booster was expected to return to Vandenberg for a landing at LZ-4, and NASASpaceflight later posted that the booster touched down on LZ-4.