SpaceX is targeting tonight for a Falcon 9 launch of 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Liftoff is targeted for 8:51 p.m., with backup opportunities available until 9:52 p.m. If needed, additional launch opportunities are also available on Saturday, July 19 starting at 9:26 p.m.
Following stage separation, the first stage booster will return and touch town on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, to be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
Officials note of a possibility that residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch depending on weather and other conditions.
A live webcast of the mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, accessible via X, @SpaceX, and webcast on the new X TV app.
Launch dates and times are subject to change at any time due to mission requirements.
Lisa André covers lifestyle and local news for the Santa Ynez Valley News and Lompoc Record, editions of the Santa Maria Times. She can be reached at landre@syvnews.com
Tags:
- Aerospace
- aerospace companies
- aerospace companies of north america
- aerospace companies of the united states
- astronautics
- astronomical objects
- astrophysics
- autonomous spaceport drone ship
- ballistics
- California
- commercial launch service providers
- commercial spaceflight
- double asteroid redirection test
- Elon Musk
- falcon 9
- falcon 9 rideshare
- flight
- hawthorne
- human spaceflight
- Local News
- local-government
- lompoc
- military-vandenberg
- observational astronomy
- outer space
- physical sciences
- private spaceflight
- private spaceflight companies
- reusable spaceflight technology
- rocket engine manufacturers
- rocket engine manufacturers of the united states
- rocket families
- rocketry
- rockets and missiles
- satellite
- secondary payload
- service companies
- solar system
- space
- space access
- space exploration
- space industry
- space launch vehicles
- space launch vehicles of the united states
- space organizations
- space program of the united states
- space programs
- space science
- space vehicles
- SPACECRAFT
- spacecraft manufacturers
- spaceflight
- spaceflight technology
- SpaceX
- Starlink
- starlink satellites
- stellar astronomy
- stellar corona
- uncrewed spacecraft
- vandenbereg space force base
- vandenberg space force base
- vandenberg space launch complex 4