Vandenberg rocket launch today. Where, when to see SpaceX liftoff

Key Points:

• SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on April 22, with a four-hour window starting at 7 p.m. PT, aiming to deploy 25 Starlink broadband internet satellites into low-Earth orbit.
• The launch site is closed to the public, but several viewing locations are available across Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties, including spots in Lompoc, Ventura Pier, and Avila Beach, offering varying vantage points of the rocket's ascent.
• Residents in nearby counties may hear sonic booms lasting up to 10 minutes following liftoff, caused by the rocket traveling faster than the speed of sound.
• After deployment, the Falcon 9 booster will attempt a controlled landing on a SpaceX drone ship in the Pacific Ocean for recovery and reuse in future missions.
• SpaceX, founded and led by Elon Musk, operates Starlink, a satellite internet service with over 10,000 satellites designed to provide high-speed internet globally, especially in rural and underserved areas.