What launched during the spacex launch today and from where?

A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on January 3, carrying Italy’s COSMO-SkyMed FM3 radar Earth observation satellite. The first stage completed its 21st flight and landed. The mission adds all-weather imaging capacity and highlights SpaceX’s continued focus on reuse and schedule reliability.

Why is COSMO-SkyMed FM3 important for users and investors?

COSMO-SkyMed FM3 adds synthetic aperture radar coverage that works day or night and through cloud cover. Users benefit from better revisit times for disaster response, maritime monitoring, and infrastructure checks. For investors, it reinforces demand for reliable launch and recurring revenue from data subscriptions, tasking, and analytics services.

What does a 21st booster flight indicate about reuse and risk?

It signals durable vehicle hardware, steady operations, and maturing refurbishment processes. High reuse can lower marginal costs and improve schedule flexibility. For investors, repeat landings reduce execution risk and support consistent cash flow from a busy manifest, though weather, range access, and payload readiness still affect timing.

How can investors track outcomes after the spacex launch today?

Watch quarterly launch counts, turnaround times between flights, and customer mix across civil, defense, and commercial sectors. Monitor contract wins for imaging data and tasking services. Review any schedule changes reported by providers and ranges, which can affect revenue timing for both launch and satellite data companies.

Global Market Insights

SpaceX Launch January 03: Falcon 9 Delivers Italy’s COSMO-SkyMed FM3

ByDanny Kontos January 4, 2026January 4, 2026

The spacex launch today kicked off 2026 with a clean Falcon 9 mission from Vandenberg, deploying Italy’s COSMO-SkyMed FM3 radar satellite and returning the booster after its 21st flight. The 16-day pause before liftoff was unusual for SpaceX, making this success notable for cadence watchers. For US investors, the mission highlights strong demand for Earth observation and reliable reusable launch, both important signals for the broader commercial space and satellite data markets this year.