SpaceX launches Falcon 9 from Vandenberg as AI startup Cursor becomes part of the company

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Base in California on a classified mission for the U.S. Space Force. The launch marks the first publicly confirmed Falcon 9 flight from Vandenberg since the base’s rebranding to Space Force Station. It also follows SpaceX’s recent closure of its $60 billion acquisition of Cursor, the AI coding startup that has been integrated into the company’s compute infrastructure. The mission underscores SpaceX’s expanding role in national security space launches and illustrates how its operational tempo is accelerating amid growing investor scrutiny of its valuation and revenue outlook.

Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Base

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Base in California on Saturday night, delivering a classified payload for the U.S. Space Force.

The flight included an attempted booster landing that could generate a sonic boom audible to nearby observers.

No specific launch date was provided in the source material.

The mission underscores SpaceX’s continued role in supporting national security space operations while testing recovery techniques at the coastal site.

The launch coincided with the company’s recent closure of a $60 billion acquisition of the AI coding startup Cursor, a move that has drawn attention from investors and analysts tracking the broader aerospace and artificial‑intelligence sectors.

Cursor acquisition finalized

SpaceX closed its $60 billion acquisition of AI coding startup Cursor on Friday, integrating the company into its operations. The transaction had been widely expected, as the two firms had already shared compute resources and training data. The deal marks a significant expansion of SpaceX’s artificial intelligence capabilities and reinforces its vertical integration strategy.

SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Base in California, carrying a classified payload for the U.S. Space Force.

Alphabet’s investment in SpaceX grew 100 times over ten years, reaching $94 billion.

Nvidia’s stake in SpaceX, which came through an investment in xAI, was worth about $21 billion at the end of the second quarter.

SpaceX stock rose 6% when 911 million shares unlocked, though most remained unsell

Investor stakes and market reaction

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Base in California while finalizing its $60 billion acquisition of AI startup Cursor. Alphabet’s investment in SpaceX grew 100 times over ten years to $94 billion, and Nvidia’s stake, held through xAI, was valued at approximately $21 billion at the end of the second quarter. SpaceX stock rose 6% when 911 million shares unlocked, though the price remains down 33% from its peak. The launch carried a classified payload for the U.S. Space Force. The deal integrates Cursor’s AI tools into SpaceX’s broader reusable launch system development program.

Upcoming launch from Florida

SpaceX is scheduled to launch a satellite replenishment mission for Globalstar from Cape Canaveral. The flight marks the next in a series of launches from Florida’s Space Coast, following the recent Falcon 9 liftoff at Vandenberg. The mission will carry multiple Globalstar satellites aimed at expanding the company’s low‑Earth‑orbit network for emergency communications. It underscores SpaceX’s growing cadence of rideshare and dedicated payloads across U.S. spaceports. The launch also highlights continued demand for satellite‑based services as commercial and government operators seek broader coverage.

Frequently asked questions