{"id":252496,"date":"2025-12-26T15:08:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T15:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/252496\/"},"modified":"2025-12-26T15:08:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T15:08:18","slug":"arizonans-may-miss-last-spacex-rocket-launch-of-year-from-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/252496\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizonans may miss last SpaceX rocket launch of year from California"},"content":{"rendered":"

SpaceX has one final rocket launch on the books for 2025<\/a> from the West Coast, but it may be hard to spot the spacecraft from Arizona this time around.<\/p>\n

For its final mission of the year, the commercial spaceflight company is taking a break from\u00a0a slew of Starlink missions<\/a>\u00a0from the Vandenberg Space Force Base<\/a> in California to deliver batches of its commercial satellites to its growing constellation<\/a>\u00a0in low-Earth orbit. Instead, SpaceX is contracted as the launch service provider for the Italian Space Agency, which selected the company to help deploy a satellite referred to as CSG-3 to observe Earth.<\/p>\n

Regardless of what’s stowed away on the company’s Falcon 9, the two-stage rocket should look just as slick blasting off from the ground<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But for Arizona residents, it may be a bad prognosis, as the planned trajectory of the spaceflight may miss the state entirely<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What’s more, postponements due to weather or issues with rockets are common with spaceflight. If you’re going to try to spot the rocket launch<\/a>, check back with azcentral.com<\/a> for any updates on the mission.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, here’s what to know about the launch from neighboring California<\/a>, as well as when and where to potentially see the rocket in Arizona.<\/p>\n

California rocket launches: <\/strong>SpaceX launches to increase in 2026 in California along with Falcon Heavy debut<\/a><\/p>\n

What time is the SpaceX rocket launch?<\/p>\n

SpaceX is working toward<\/a> a launch from Southern California at 6:08 p.m. PT, Saturday, Dec. 27.<\/p>\n

A Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory<\/a>\u00a0suggests a backup opportunity is available the next day if the launch were to be postponed.<\/p>\n

Where is the next launch from California? Will it be seen in Arizona?<\/p>\n

The launch will take place from\u00a0Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base<\/a>\u00a0in Santa Barbara County, California.<\/p>\n

Because the rocket will fly at a southern trajectory<\/a>, it may not be possible to easily spot it from Arizona.<\/p>\n

What is the next mission from Vandenberg? Falcon 9 to deliver satellite for Italy<\/p>\n

SpaceX will launch its famous two-stage 230-foot Falcon 9<\/a> rocket, one of the world’s most active, to deliver to low-Earth orbit the\u00a0CSG-3 Earth observation satellite for the Italian Space Agency. The satellite is meant to replace Italy’s first generation COSMO-SkyMed system.<\/p>\n

California rocket launch could be visible in Arizona: Where to watch<\/p>\n

Because of Arizona’s proximity to the launch site, there’s a good chance people there can see the spacecraft streak across the sky, especially at night or very early morning.<\/p>\n

Here’s a list of some possible viewing locations compiled by The Arizona Republic, a USA TODAY Network publication.<\/p>\n