SpaceX rocket launch from California: What time is liftoff, what to know about sonic booms
SpaceX, which one week ago called off an attempt to launch a batch of Starlink satellites into orbit from Southern California, is planning to give it another go.
The company's famous 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch as early as Friday, May 9, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, according to a launch alert from the base. On board the Falcon 9 will be a payload of 26 internet-beaming Starlink satellites for deployment into what's called low-Earth orbit – an altitude that allows for things like satellites to circle Earth fairly quickly.
The possible impending launch comes nearly a week after SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, called off a previous attempt to get the rocket off the ground to deploy the satellites.
Like most SpaceX launches, the liftoff will be livestreamed. But the rocket launch will also be widely visible for many spectators across California, neighboring Arizona and, in some cases, Las Vegas.
Here's what to know about the launch, as well as when and where to watch it:
The launch window opens at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET) Friday, May 9, and lasts until 7:21 p.m. PT, according to an alert from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Vandenberg, California. If SpaceX opts to scrub the launch, backup opportunities are available beginning at 5 p.m. PT Saturday, May 10.
The launch, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to deliver the 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 first stage 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.
Rocket launches: Here's the May launch schedule from Vandenberg, California
Residents of Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County and Ventura County could hear sonic booms, according to Vandenberg's alert.
Sonic booms are brief, thunder-like noises that are often heard from the ground when a spacecraft or aircraft travels faster than the speed of sound.
SpaceX said it will provide a livestream of the launch on its website beginning about five minutes before liftoff, along with updates on social media site X.
If conditions are clear, rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Vandenberg, California, can be viewed from several locations as far as Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.
Space Launch Schedule, a website dedicated to tracking upcoming rocket launches, provided a list of places in California to catch the launch in person:
13th Street and Arguello Boulevard, the public site with the closest views of SpaceX launches
Firefighter Road, an official viewing area on one of the publicly accessible roads closest to several launch complexes, including Complex 4
Floradale Avenue and West Ocean Avenue, officially designated as the 'viewing site for SLC-6' (space launch complex-6)
Harris Grade Road, which rises about 600 feet above the surrounding area, giving spectators a good elevation to see a launch from most of the base's complexes
Renwick Avenue and West Ocean Avenue, another intersection close to the base where spectators can park
Santa Lucia Canyon Road and Victory Road, provides a partial view of Complex 4
Surf Beach on Ocean Avenue, the only location where the public can view the ignition and liftoff of rockets from Complex 4
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.
Established in 1941, the Vandenberg Space Force Base, previously Vandenberg Air Force Base, is a site for both military, civil and commercial space launches.
Agencies like NASA and companies like SpaceX routinely launch spacecraft from Vandenberg, a site where where missile testing also takes place. Just recently, for instance, Texas spaceflight company Firefly Aerospace attempted to launch prototype satellites into orbit for Lockheed Martin from the base.
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.
As of late-April, though, billionaire Jeff Bezos' Amazon is seeking to compete with Starlink by launching a group of satellites of its own. On April 28, Amazon contracted with the United Launch Alliance to deliver the first 27 of more than 3,200 planned satellites into low-Earthorbit for its Project Kuiper.
The inaugural launch of what is often referred to online as the "Amazon rocket launch" took place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: California rocket launch: How to see SpaceX liftoff from Vandenberg
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Musk's efficiency model fails, Israel needs excellence
In a nation known worldwide for innovation, shouldn't our governmental systems reflect the same ingenuity that powers our most successful sectors? Imagine two government offices side by side. In the first, budget cuts eliminate 30% of the staff, forcing the remaining workers to process paperwork faster, yet citizens still wait hours, frustrated and unserved. In the second, a complete digital redesign allows most services to be completed online in minutes, with personalized guidance available for complex cases. Both claim 'efficiency,' but only the second delivers excellence. When Elon Musk took charge of US President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, he promised a revolution in government operations. Within weeks, over 200,000 federal employees were dismissed. 'We are moving fast,' Musk admitted, 'but we'll also fix mistakes quickly.' This bulldozer model captured global attention, including in Israel, where bureaucracy has long been a national punchline. The temptation to import this model is understandable. Yet what Israel needs is not America's DOGE but rather to reimagine the concept entirely, where the 'E' evolves from mere 'Efficiency' to true 'Excellence.' This distinction isn't semantic wordplay. Efficiency asks, 'How can we do the same with less?' Excellence asks, 'How can we create more value for citizens?' The first measure reduced inputs; the second focused on improved outcomes. Excellence often costs less in the long run by eliminating the hidden expenses of poor service: repeated visits, economic opportunities lost to delays, and the massive collective waste of citizens' time. As Israelis, we maintain a consistent expectation that our government should deliver quality services year after year. This social contract is fundamental to our society. We're willing to contribute through taxes and military service, but we expect competent governance in return. The excellence approach recognizes that well-functioning public institutions form the foundation of this mutual commitment and our national resilience. The irony is that Israel, the Start-up Nation, lags dramatically behind in government innovation. The same country that pioneers cutting-edge technologies in cybersecurity, agriculture, and healthcare still processes many government services using methods from the previous century. What the American DOGE does get right is creating a national conversation about government performance. Before DOGE, government reform was largely a technical discussion among experts. Now, it's front-page news. This visibility creates accountability and builds the political will necessary for meaningful change – precisely what Israel's public sector reforms have lacked. Excellence doesn't mean abandoning necessary protections; strong regulatory frameworks safeguard public health, safety, and essential services. The goal isn't to eliminate these safeguards but to redesign them intelligently. Consider business licensing: smart reform maintains high standards while eliminating redundant approvals and creating clear, predictable paths for entrepreneurs. What would an excellence-focused approach look like in practice? The solutions are largely known, and numerous committee reports have outlined necessary reforms for Israel's public service. What's missing isn't ideas but rather the sustained political commitment and public support to implement them. Three key initiatives must take priority. First, government services must be fundamentally redesigned with citizens at the center of the process. This goes beyond mere digitization to rethinking how services are structured and delivered. Estonia offers an instructive example. They've built an integrated digital government platform where services are designed around life events and user needs, not agency structures. Their transformation saves an estimated 2% of GDP annually while dramatically improving citizen satisfaction. The key insight isn't just technology; it's the citizen-centric redesign of the entire service experience. Second, excellence demands investing strategically in our public servants. This means creating diverse entry pathways to attract top talent, ensuring competitive compensation for key positions, and establishing cultures of innovation where continuous improvement is rewarded. Third, we need structured collaboration across sectors. Government doesn't have to solve every problem alone; it can leverage expertise from private industry, civil society, and academia. This multi-sectoral approach enables faster adaptation to evolving challenges while ensuring public services remain relevant and effective. The blueprints for transformation already exist in Israel. What's needed now is the determination to implement them, not through indiscriminate cuts but through thoughtful redesign backed by a genuine political commitment to better service. The citizens of Israel deserve a civil service that matches the excellence they demonstrate in their own fields. In a nation known worldwide for innovation, shouldn't our governmental systems reflect the same ingenuity that powers our most successful sectors? The question isn't whether we can afford such a transformation but whether we can afford to continue without it. The writer is the executive director of Tashtit, which works to promote professional and effective public service in Israel. He is also a member of the leadership team at Eco Memshal, a multi-sectoral space for organizations working to strengthen the public service in Israel.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Stephen Miller's Wife Torn Between Two Men As White House Break-Up Rages
Katie Miller, the wife of a top Donald Trump aide who now works for Elon Musk, is in a 'tricky situation' amid the two men's messy breakup, her friends told The Wall Street Journal. Miller, 33, is the wife of Stephen Miller, 39, the high-profile staffer who masterminded Trump's mass deportation initiative. Having risen through the White House ranks herself to become a top DOGE aide, Musk took Miller with him to work in the private sector upon his exit from government—and then promptly torpedoed his relationship with Trump and his supporters. (Stephen Miller is among those who have called out Musk in recent days.) Musk and Trump exchanged a flurry of blows beginning on Thursday. Musk alleged that Trump was implicated by government files on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while Trump fired back that Musk's drug use might be responsible for his behavior. At some point during the battle, Musk unfollowed Miller's husband. The ugly spat has cooled off—but some commentators predict it's far from over. Friends of Miller, who declined to speak to the Journal herself, told the paper that she has 'conflicting interests,' which has made the break-up especially tough for her. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. This isn't the first time Miller has found herself torn between Musk and Trump. Insiders told the Journal that tensions flared on occasions when senior White House staffers didn't feel that Miller was doing enough to push Musk to operate in step with the rest of the administration. For many White House aides, Miller was the main point of contact for Musk and his team, but they still felt she was not sharing enough information about what the tech billionaire was doing, the Journal reported. Miller told some people that she was struggling to keep up with the pace of Musk's eccentric behavior as he gutted agencies and slashed funding. Some White House aides blamed her for delivering updates from DOGE with inaccurate intel—like a claim, later parroted by Trump, that the government had sent $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza. Miller signed onto the Trump administration during the president's first term. She met her husband while working at the Department of Homeland Security. Trump attended their February 2020 wedding, which took place at the president's hotel in Washington D.C. Later, Miller joined Vice President Mike Pence's office. After the January 2021 insurrection, which saw Trump turn on Pence for his refusal to impede the certification of the 2020 election results, Miller, like now, found herself backed into a corner. While her husband stayed with Trump, Miller worked for Pence's post-presidency. But when Trump began to attack Pence after leaving office, the ex-VP's advisers decided the situation was 'untenable,' and Miller left, per the Journal. Last summer, she emerged as a an effective liaison between Musk and the Trump campaign. When the Musk's DOGE was announced before Trump came into office, she was one of the first employees to be revealed. Before Trump's second term, Miller had cultivated a reputation for being a tough, fiery, and vocal advocate of Trump's platform. If there was any doubt that Miller is unafraid to take the road less traveled, insiders told the Journal that she has a tattoo on the inside of her lip that says 'YOLO'—which stands for the slogan 'you only live once.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Clamoring to Invest in SpaceX but Can't? Consider Buying Stock in This Competitor That Just Upped Its National Defense Game.
Rocket Lab has a lot of similarities to SpaceX. Its government relationships and new Neutron rocket can drive revenue higher. Similar to SpaceX, Rocket Lab is valued at an expensive multiple to its sales. 10 stocks we like better than Rocket Lab › SpaceX is the most valuable privately held company in the world, estimated to be worth $350 billion. Too bad you cannot buy its shares on the stock market today. All the gains and value generated by SpaceX have been reserved for insiders, venture capitalists, and the company's employees. Seeing these gains without being able to get in on them might be frustrating for investors who don't have access to the venture capital market. All may not be lost, though. If you truly want to invest in SpaceX, a copycat business in Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) may be for you. Here's why anyone clamoring to buy SpaceX stock should seriously consider Rocket Lab for their portfolio instead. Rocket Lab is a niche space company, but one that is nipping on SpaceX's heels. It is the only other company to reliably launch rockets for customers at scale, with its Electron program consistently launching for customers every quarter. The company has won contracts from commercial and government buyers because of how small the Electron rocket is. SpaceX's systems are not meant for a nimble or small payload, which is how Rocket Lab attacked the market previously monopolized by SpaceX. These capabilities have allowed Rocket Lab to win contracts for national defense systems such as HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron), which helps the government test hypersonic defense capabilities. These reliable contracts are only growing, with huge potential for more government spending on space defense in the years to come. For example, the proposed Golden Dome missile defense system is expected to cost $175 billion, and Rocket Lab is in a prime position to win contracts associated with this program if it comes into being, as well as many others. A relationship with the U.S. government for national defense priorities could be quite lucrative for Rocket Lab as it tries to take the next steps as a business. This is why it just acquired Geost -- a satellite laser operator -- for $275 million. Looking ahead, Rocket Lab is preparing for a future in which it more directly competes with SpaceX rockets via its Neutron rocket, which will be much larger than the Electron and have a similar payload to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket system. Rocket Lab is currently testing the Neutron and hopes to be ready for commercial launches next year. An operational Neutron rocket could lead to a massive boost for Rocket Lab's business. It already has a proposed contract for two missions for a unnamed customer in 2026 and was signed onto the U.S. National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, which is expected to spend $5.6 billion through 2029. This is a huge greenfield opportunity for Rocket Lab. The company already has a great reputation for safe launches, which will hopefully lead the company to win contracts for the Neutron as well. It will also help the company sell more of the space systems that it builds for its launch customers, a double whammy of revenue growth for the business. Today, Rocket Lab's backlog sits at just over $1 billion. If the Neutron can start safely launching for customers, we could see huge growth in the size of Rocket Lab's backlog throughout the rest of the decade. SpaceX is estimated to have a price-to-sales ratio (P/S) of around 27, which is quite expensive. The average stock in the S&P 500 has a P/S ratio of 3, which takes the market cap and divides by trailing-12-month sales and is a metric used often when a company has no earnings. Rocket Lab is in a similar boat to SpaceX. It has a P/S ratio of 28.5, which has grown as the stock has soared in the last 12 months. Rocket Lab may grow into its valuation if the Neutron is successful and revenue goes up tenfold over the next 10 years. However, the company has an expensive-looking P/S ratio today and has never made a profit. This makes it a risky gambit to put your money in. If you really want to invest in the space economy, Rocket Lab is a good way to play this trend. However, the stock is expensive and does not come without risks. Before you buy stock in Rocket Lab, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Rocket Lab wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $868,615!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Brett Schafer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Rocket Lab USA. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Clamoring to Invest in SpaceX but Can't? Consider Buying Stock in This Competitor That Just Upped Its National Defense Game. was originally published by The Motley Fool
