SpaceX Launches Falcon 9 Rocket with 45 Satellites, Sonic Booms Expected in California
SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. The launch, scheduled for late Saturday, will carry 45 satellites into low-Earth orbit. The primary payload is the CAS500-2 Earth-observation satellite, developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. This mission was initially planned for 2022 but was delayed due to geopolitical tensions following Russia's attack on Ukraine. The launch window opens at 11:59 p.m. with a backup window 24 hours later. Residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear sonic booms as the rocket ascends. This marks the 54th launch of the year for SpaceX and the 33rd flight for the first-stage booster, which is expected to return to a landing platform at Vandenberg approximately eight minutes after launch. 
