A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket roared off the Central Coast early Wednesday, carrying 21 satellites into orbit for the U.S. Space Force Space Development Agency (SDA) in a mission officials say marks a major milestone in America's next-generation space architecture.

The rocket lifted off at 7:12 a.m. from Space Launch Complex-4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base, beginning deployment of the Tranche 1 Transport Layer — part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). The constellation is designed to deliver tactical data links to warfighters in the field, provide beyond-line-of sight targeting, and trach advanced missile threats.

"It was a beautiful morning on California's Central Coast, and a perfect moment to witness America's space architecture in action," base officials sai

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