The West Coast’s third liftoff of 2024 could occur as soon as Friday night at Vandenberg Space Force Base where the year’s launch rate could top 50.

The SpaceX rocket and its cargo will head into orbit from Space Launch Complex-4 on South Base. 

The mission will aim to place another batch of Starlink satellites into space.

Late Thursday afternoon, SpaceX confirmed the team would aim for 8:04 p.m. Thursday, but scrubbed the attempt at approximately 8 p.m.

The team will aim for a 6:15 p.m. Friday departure, with other opportunities until 9:58 p.m.

While residents may hear the rumble of the rocket’s departure, sonic booms are not expected since the first-stage booster will land on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean south of the Central Coast.

The mission will continue to expand the number of Starlink satellites in orbit as the constellation tops 5,700. However, approximately 5,550 satellites still remain in space, according to Jonathan McDowell’s detailed tally.

SpaceX designed and manufactured Starlink satellites to provide internet access across the globe, especially in areas where the service hasn’t been available or reliable.

The Starlink constellation reportedly aims to have 30,000 satellites.

A live webcast of the Vandenberg mission is scheduled to begin on the SpaceX account of the site formerly known as Twitter about five minutes before liftoff.