In what’s likely to be the last launch of 2024 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, a Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to deliver 22 Starlink satellites into orbit Saturday night.

The two-stage rocket built by SpaceX will aim for liftoff from Space Launch Complex-4 at 5:48 p.m. with backup opportunities available until 9:31 p.m.

If needed, additional opportunities are also available starting 5:12 p.m. Sunday. 

Launches near sunset or sunrise can provide especially picturesque sights, if skies are clear, as the rocket climbs away from the Central Coast.

This will be the 16th flight for the first-stage booster involved in the mission, which previously delivered various other Starlink and government spacecraft, SpaceX said.

After finishing its job, the first-stage booster will land approximately eight minutes after liftoff on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

Starlink, designed and built by SpaceX, involves a constellation of thousands of satellites to provide internet access around the world, especially where the traditional land-based service remains unavailable or unreliable. 

In addition to the Vandenberg mission, SpaceX has a pair of Falcon rocket launches planned from Florida in the coming days.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which can watched at www.spacex.com or on X @SpaceX.