SpaceX plans Vandenberg rocket launch today. Where, when to see liftoff
SpaceX plans to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on May 15, deploying 24 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit with a four-hour launch window starting at 7 a.m. PT. Spectators can view the launch from public locations in Santa Barbara County, including 13th Street and Arguello Boulevard, though delays may occur due to weather or technical issues.
SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California, on Friday, May 15, with a launch window opening at 7 a.m. PT. The mission will deploy 24 Starlink broadband internet satellites into low-Earth orbit using the two-stage, 230-foot-tall rocket. The launch will follow a southern trajectory, typical of recent missions from the base’s Space Launch Complex 4-East (SLC-4E), which SpaceX leases for Falcon 9 operations. No public viewing is available at the military base, but spectators can watch from nearby locations like 13th Street and Arguello Boulevard, the closest public vantage point, or Floradale Avenue and West Ocean Avenue. Clear skies are ideal for visibility, though launches from Vandenberg often extend viewing opportunities as far as Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. The Federal Aviation Administration has noted a backup launch window on May 16 if weather or technical issues delay the mission. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is one of the world’s most active rockets, and this launch will mark another addition to its growing Starlink constellation, which provides global broadband coverage. Spectators should check for updates from VC Star or SpaceX’s official launch page, as postponements are common in spaceflight. The launch will be SpaceX’s latest from Vandenberg, continuing its frequent use of the California base for satellite deployments.
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