What was the rocket launch today from Vandenberg?

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched Italy’s COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM3 from Vandenberg on January 4, 2026. The mission ended a 16-day gap and achieved a landing at LZ-4. It is the base’s first liftoff of 2026 and supports a busy West Coast launch schedule.

Why is COSMO-SkyMed FM3 important to investors?

It is a radar imaging satellite that provides day-night, all-weather data. Governments and commercial users buy this data on subscriptions and tasking contracts. Growing demand for resilient imagery and analytics supports multi-year revenue visibility and can improve margins for providers tied to SAR data and services.

How does this mission affect 2026 launch cadence?

A clean ascent and onshore booster recovery point to strong fleet availability. Reliable turnarounds reduce schedule risk, help convert backlog to revenue, and can stabilize pricing for rideshare and dedicated missions. Investors should track average days between launches and any changes in recovery modes.

Where can I follow updates on similar launches?

For detailed timelines and local viewing context, follow established space reporting outlets and local news near Vandenberg. Official mission webcasts and range notices are also helpful. Watching cadence, recovery results, and payload announcements will provide early signals on schedule health and demand.

Global Market Insights

January 04: SpaceX Opens 2026 at Vandenberg with Italy’s CSG-FM3 Launch

ByHuzaifa Zahoor January 4, 2026January 4, 2026

Investors tracking rocket launch today saw a strong start to 2026 as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched Italy’s COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM3 from Vandenberg on January 4. The mission ended a 16-day gap since the last flight and featured a precise booster landing at Landing Zone 4. This success highlights steady demand for radar Earth-observation and a busy 2026 manifest. For U.S. readers, the flight underscores healthy commercial launch supply, growing defense data needs, and continued momentum after a record 2025. We break down what it means for portfolios.