SpaceX rocket launch could be visible in Arizona: When, where to see Falcon 9 lift off
Yet another SpaceX rocket should soon be visible in parts of Arizona's skies as it gets off the ground from neighboring California.
For the sixth time in May, Elon Musk's commercial spaceflight company is planning to launch a Falcon 9 rocket bearing a batch of Starlink satellites for delivering to Earth's orbit. The liftoff is targeted for the afternoon of Saturday, May 31 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen from Arizona after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on June 18, 2024. The rocket was carrying 20 Starlink satellites.
The mission would be the latest to deliver internet-beaming Starlink satellites into what's called low-Earth orbit – an altitude that allows for things like satellites to circle Earth fairly quickly.
But it's important to keep in mind that rocket launches can be – and often are – scrubbed or delayed due to any number of factors, including poor weather conditions or unexpected issues with spacecraft. Check back with the Arizona Republic for any updates on the impending rocket launch.
Because of the launch site's proximity, Arizona residents across a large swath of the state may be able to witness the rocket soaring overhead.
Here's what to know about the launch, as well as when and where to watch it:
What time is the SpaceX rocket launch from California?
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket could get off the ground as early as 1:10 p.m. PT Saturday, May 31, with backup opportunities available until 4:51 p.m., according to a launch alert from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California. If needed, additional launch opportunities are also available staring at 12:39 p.m. PT on Sunday, June 1.
The launch, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to deliver 27 Starlink satellites, will take place from Launch Complex 4E from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California.
Following the delivery and deployment of the satellites, the Falcon 9 rocket's booster will aim to land on a SpaceX drone ship, nicknamed "Of Course I Still Love You," in the Pacific Ocean. This allows for SpaceX personnel to recover the booster so it can be reused in future spaceflights.
How to watch SpaceX Starlink launch livestream
SpaceX provides a livestream of the launch on its website beginning about five minutes before liftoff, along with updates on social media site X.
California rocket launch could be visible in Arizona: Where to watch
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 South 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 the Greater Phoenix area 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 located on 115th Avenue, in Arizona
What is SpaceX?
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., more widely known as SpaceX, is an astronautics company owned and co-founded by Elon Musk, the world's richest man.
The commercial spaceflight company is contracted with NASA and the Department of Defense to use many of its spacecraft to help launch government missions. SpaceX also conducts many of its own rocket launches – most using its two-stage Falcon 9 rocket – including for private crewed missions and to deliver communication satellites to orbit.
What is Starlink?
Owned by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, Starlink is a constellation of more than 6,700 satellites that provide internet service to customers around the world.
SpaceX, a commercial spaceflight company, has spent more than six years delivering the satellites to orbit with a regular cadence of rocket launches from Florida and California.
While most satellite internet services operate from single geostationary satellites orbiting Earth at about 22,236 miles, Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites that operate from a low-Earth orbit, about 341 miles up. That allows Starlink's satellites to have lower latency and data time between user and the satellite, improving performance of things like streaming, online gaming and video calls.
This article has been updated to add new information.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: SpaceX rocket launch could be visible in Arizona: When, where to see Falcon 9 lift off
