SpaceX launches 45 satellites from Vandenberg on Falcon 9
Updated
Updated · Space.com · May 2
SpaceX launches 45 satellites from Vandenberg on Falcon 9
10 articles · Updated · Space.com · May 2
The payloads include South Korea's CAS500-2 Earth-observation satellite, with liftoff set for a 37-minute window opening at 0659 GMT on 3 May.
SpaceX says booster B1071 will attempt its 33rd landing at Vandenberg about 7.5 minutes after launch, while CAS500-2 is due to deploy roughly an hour later.
The mission also carries 44 rideshare satellites from multiple operators and marks SpaceX's 54th launch of 2026. CAS500-2 was delayed after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine ended its planned Soyuz launch.
How will South Korea's CAS500-2 and the surge in small satellites reshape disaster response, crop monitoring, and global security in the next decade?
With SpaceX's relentless push for reusability, could the next leap in satellite deployment cost reduction come from Starship or new competitors?
As the low-cost, AI-powered satellite market accelerates, what new risks or opportunities could emerge for privacy, cybersecurity, and international cooperation?