SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket could be visible over Arizona: Where, when to look up
SpaceX launches have come roaring back to life in Southern California after more than a two-week break, giving space enthusiasts plenty of chances to once again catch a rocket soaring high above.
The first of three upcoming SpaceX Starlink missions got off the ground on the night of Tuesday, July 15. Now, Elon Musk's commercial spaceflight company could soon get another of its Falcon 9 rockets off the ground from the Vandenberg Space Force Base to deploy more of the internet-beaming satellites.
The launch site itself may be across state lines, but Arizonans could still have a chance to see the rocket itself soaring overheard.
But it's important to keep in mind that rocket launches can be – and often are – scrubbed or delayed due to any number of factors, including poor weather conditions or unexpected issues with spacecraft. Check back with azcentral.com for any updates on the rocket launch.
Here's what to know about the launch from Southern California, as well as when and where to watch it in neighboring Arizona:
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What time is the SpaceX rocket launch from California?
The launch is being targeted for 8:51 p.m. PT Friday, July 18, according to a launch alert from the Vandenberg Space Force Base.
If needed, additional launch opportunities are available starting at 9:26 p.m. PT Saturday, July 19.
Where is the next rocket launch from California?
The launch will take place fromLaunch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Basein Santa Barbara County, California. Most launches from Vandenberg fly at a south or southeast trajectory.
What is the next mission launching from Vandenberg?
The spaceflight will make use of the company's famous two-stage 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket, one of the world's most active, to deliver 24 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.
The altitude is low enough to allow for things like satellites to circle Earth fairly quickly.
How to watch SpaceX Starlink launch livestream
SpaceX will provide a webcast of the Starlink launch onits website beginning about five minutes before liftoff, along with updates onsocial media site X.
California rocket launch could be visible in Arizona: Where to watch
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.
Here's a list of some possible viewing locations compiled by The Arizona Republic, a USA TODAY Network publication.
Dobbins Lookout,South Mountain, 10919 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona
Papago Park, 625 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona
Fountain Hills, a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, which in 2018was designated a Dark Sky Communitywith little light pollution
Superstition Mountains,located 40 miles frommetro Phoenix in Arizona
Cave Creek,a town in Maricopa Countyabout 30 miles north of Fountain Hills, Arizona
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 3400 Sky Harbor Blvd., Arizona, which has a parking garage that is popular for plane-watching
Black Canyon City, an unincorporated community in Yavapai County, Arizona
Any mountain park in Arizona
Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear, Arizona
Skyline Regional Park, 2600 N. Watson Road, Buckeye, Arizona
White Tank Mountains, 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, Arizona
San Tan Mountain Regional Park, 6533 W. Phillips Road, Queen Creek, Arizona
Monument Hill,a150-foot slopeon 115th Avenue, in Arizona
What is SpaceX?
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, founded SpaceX in 2002.
The commercial spaceflight company isheadquartered at Starbasein South Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The site, which is where SpaceX has been conducting routine flight testsof its 400-foot megarocket known as Starship, was recently voted by residents to become its own city.
SpaceX conducts many of its own rocket launches, most using the Falcon 9 rocket, from both California andFlorida. That includes a regular cadence of deliveries of Starlink internet satellites into orbit, and occasional privately funded commercial crewed missionson the Dragon.
The most recent of SpaceX's private human spaceflights,a mission known as Fram2, took place in April. SpaceX was also famously involved in funding and operatingthe headline-grabbing Polaris Dawncrewed commercial mission in September 2024.
SpaceX additionally benefits from billions of dollars in contracts from NASA and the Department of Defense by providinglaunch services for classified satellites and other payloads.
What is Starlink?
Owned by SpaceX founder Elon Musk,Starlink is aconstellation of more than7,000 satellites that provide internet service to customers around the world. SpaceX has spent more than six years delivering the satellites to orbitwith a regular cadence of rocket launchesfrom both Florida and California.
While most satellite internet services operate from single geostationary satellites orbiting Earth at about 22,236 miles, Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites that operate from a low-Earth orbit, about 341 miles up. That allows Starlink's satellites to have lower latency and data time between user and the satellite, improving performance of things like streaming, online gaming and video calls.
This article has been updated to add new information.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket may be seen over Arizona: Where, when
