Get ready to look up, Arizona! SpaceX has a weekend rocket launch in the works that may be visible in certain parts of the state.
The commercial spaceflight company's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket is due to fly on a mission to deploy more of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites
into orbit. The rocket launch will mark the fifth of the month at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and the 64th of 2026 amid what is sure to be another record-breaking year.If you're eager to see the 230-foot rocket soaring over Arizona, plenty of places are popular among spectators.
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 Saturday, Sept. 19, launch from Southern California, with a four-hour launch window opening at 6:47 p.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.
Because the rocket is due to fly at a southeastern trajectory, it may be visible from Arizona.
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
Patchy fog and cloudy conditions are forecasted during the Sept. 19 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: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is due to fly near Arizona this weekend
