Rocket launch today. Where to see SpaceX liftoff from Vandenberg
Key Points:
- SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County on March 24, deploying 25 Starlink broadband internet satellites into low-Earth orbit, with a launch window opening at 4:03 p.m. PT and a backup opportunity the following day.
- The launch will follow a southern trajectory and is expected to be visible from multiple locations across Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties, including designated viewing spots in Lompoc, Ventura Pier, and Avila Beach.
- Residents near the launch site may hear sonic booms lasting up to 10 minutes after liftoff, and the Falcon 9 booster is planned to land on a SpaceX drone ship in the Pacific Ocean for recovery and reuse.
- SpaceX, founded and led by Elon Musk, operates Starlink, a satellite internet service with over 10,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit, providing high-speed internet to underserved and rural areas worldwide.
- Vandenberg Space Force Base, a historic military and commercial launch site managed by Space Launch Delta 30, supports a variety of space missions for government and commercial clients, including SpaceX and NASA.