What: Falcon 9 rocket
When: 5:25 a.m. Saturday, according to SpaceX. If needed, the team has backup opportunities starting at 5:09 a.m. Sunday.
Where: Space Launch Complex-4 on South Base.
Landing: Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster, making its 24th flight, will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship positioned in the Pacific Ocean. A sonic boom is possible in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties, but will depend on weather and other conditions, SpaceX said.
Why: Deliver a payload, dubbed NROL-192, into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office. The spy satellite agency remains mum about its mission and satellite health upon liftoff.
Watch: A live webcast of the mission is scheduled to begin about five minutes before liftoff at spacex.com/launches and on X @SpaceX.
To watch the liftoff in person, the Lompoc Valley has multiple locations offering views of the launch pad. They include the peak of Harris Grade Road, west of Lompoc’s city limits, and around Vandenberg Village, including near the intersection of Moonglow and Stardust roads.
Vandenberg launches close to sunset or sunrise can be especially picturesque. If skies are clear, the rocket’s departure might be visible from elsewhere around California and, under certain conditions, other Western states.