New record! Firefly Aerospace launches Space Force mission 27 hours after receiving order

Rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Thursday ( Sept. 14 ) at 10:28 p.m. local California time; 0228 GMT on Sept. 15 .

The rocket roared off the pad just 27 hours after the U.S. Space Force gave the order.

The previous responsive-launch record for a national security mission was 21 days , Space Force officials said.