The first day of October could also see the first rocket launch of the month along the West Coast.
Are you ready for liftoff? SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is due to once again get off the ground at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, potentially putting on a show as far as Arizona as it climbs to orbit.
The mission: deliver payloads for paying customers in the latest in a series of Transporter rideshare missions
.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 Thursday, Oct. 1, launch from Southern California, with a 58-minute launch window opening at 11:18 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.
Because the rocket is due to fly at a southern trajectory, it may not be easily visible from Arizona.
What's the mission? SpaceX to launch Transporter-18
SpaceX will launch its famous two-stage 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket, one of the world's most active, on a rideshare mission known as Transporter-18.
The 130 payloads, including small satellites and orbital vehicles for paying customers, are due to be deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit, meaning they match Earth's rotation around the sun. The mission comes after SpaceX launched Transporter-17 at the beginning of July, which carried 81 total payloads to orbit.
Weather favorability: Here's the forecast during the launch window
A cloudy morning is forecasted to gradually clear throughout the day during the Oct. 1 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 15 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 plans large West Coast rideshare mission with 130 payloads
