Ready for liftoff, Arizona? What could be the final rocket launch of August on the West Coast is due up overnight.
SpaceX is targeting an early-morning launch window – so early, most people are likely to be asleep – for its next Starlink internet satellite deployment from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Thanks to a favorable trajectory, Arizonans willing to brave being awake at the wee hours may be treated to a striking sight as the Falcon 9 rocket soars overhead on its way to space with no sun visible to outshine it.
Keep in mind that postponements due to weather or issues with rockets are common with spaceflight. If you're going to try to spot the rocket launch, check back with azcentral.com for any updates on the mission.
In the
meantime, here's what to know about the launch from neighboring California, as well as when and where to potentially see the rocket in Arizona.
Is there a rocket launch today? Next mission from California
SpaceX is working toward a Wednesday, Aug. 26, launch from Southern California, with a four-hour launch window opening at 2:27 a.m. PT.
A Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory suggests a backup opportunity is available the next day if the launch were to be postponed.
Will liftoff from Vandenberg be visible in Arizona? What to know about trajectory
The launch will take place from Space Launch Complex 4-East (SLC-4E,) which SpaceX leases as a launch site for its Falcon 9 rocket at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County.
The rocket is due to fly at a southeastern trajectory taking it closer to Arizona and increasing the odds it will be visible from the ground.
What's the mission? SpaceX to launch Starlink satellites
SpaceX, the commercial spaceflight company founded by Elon Musk, will deliver 27 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit – a region closer to Earth's atmosphere. SpaceX's famous two-stage 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket, one of the world's most active, will be used to deliver the payload.
Weather favorability: Here's the forecast during the launch window
The night going into Aug. 26 is forecast to be mostly cloudy during the launch window for Santa Barbara County, where the Vandenberg Space Force Base is located, according to the National Weather Service.
The below graphic from the NWS shows the potential for clouds in Arizona during the targeted window, with blue shading indicating clear skies and areas with gray shading and higher percentage numbers indicating a higher chance for clouds.
How to watch SpaceX launch livestream
Fortunately for those in Arizona interested in watching the launch, SpaceX also provides a live webcast of its missions.
The launch will be available to stream on the company's website beginning about 10 minutes before liftoff. SpaceX may also provide updates on social media site X.
Photos of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in Arizona, US
Where to watch SpaceX Falcon 9 in Arizona
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 2018 was designated a Dark Sky Community with little light pollution
- Superstition Mountains, located 40 miles from metro Phoenix in Arizona
- Cave Creek, a town in Maricopa County about 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, a 150-foot slope on 115th Avenue, in Arizona
- Casa Grande, a city in Pinal County, approximately halfway between Phoenix and Tucson
- Avondale, a city in Maricopa County bordering Phoenix to the west
- Queen Creek, a suburb of Phoenix
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why Arizona could get a spectacular view of tonight's SpaceX launch
