Arizonans interested in starting next week off watching an overnight rocket launch in California may be in luck.
Tech mogul Elon Musk's commercial spaceflight company has plans to launch its Falcon 9 rocket on its latest flight from the Vandenberg Space Force Base. Its mission? deliver military satellites to orbit.
The payload, though, may not matter to those who just want to see the world's most active rocket get off the ground. While plenty of place are popular for spectators in Arizona, conditions have to be just right for the rocket to be visible.
Of course, spaceflight fans also always have a livestream available to watch if all else fails.
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 1:17 a.m. PT, Monday, Oct. 5, launch from Southern California.
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.
Because the rocket is due to fly at a southern trajectory, it may not be easily visible from Arizona.
What's the mission? What to know about Tranche 1
SpaceX will launch its famous two-stage 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket, one of the world's most active, to help deploy another batch of 21 Tranche 1 satellites for the Space Development Agency's (SDA.)
The payload marks the fourth of nine batches that SpaceX will help deliver, for a total of 154 layered network of satellites.
Once in low-Earth orbit – an altitude closer to Earth's atmosphere – the satellites will by 2027 provide global military tactical communication and missile defense.
Weather favorability: Here's the forecast during the launch window
The night of Sunday, Oct. 4 is forecast to be partly cloudy, but conditions are expected to become mostly sunny by the morning 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, which shows the potential for clouds in Arizona during the targeted window, should help spectators know if conditions will be ideal near them. Blue shading indicates clear skies, while areas with gray shading and higher percentage numbers indicates 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: SpaceX to launch recon satellites from Vandenberg. Will Arizona see it?
