Falcon 9 Transporter-16 Mission Set for March 30 Launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base

The Falcon 9 launch of the Transporter-16 mission is scheduled for March 30, 2026, at 3:20 a.m. PT from Vandenberg SFB. The mission will carry 119 payloads including cubesats, microsats, and reentry vehicles. It will demonstrate new thermal protection systems and advanced communications. A backup launch window is set for March 31. Key technologies tested include an exo-brake device, a radiation sensor, and a NOAA Data Collection System radio.

Published Mar 29, 2026

The Falcon 9 mission Transporter-16 is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 30, 2026, at 3:20 a.m. PT, with a backup on March 31. The mission will deploy 119 payloads including cubesats and microsats.

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It features tests of thermal protection systems and advanced communications. NASA's TechEdSat23 CubeSat will test an exo-brake for deorbiting, a radiation sensor, and NOAA communication technology. The R5-S10 CubeSat will test technologies for small spacecraft in low-Earth orbit. The Falcon 9 booster will land on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship post-launch, with potential sonic booms expected.