It was not a bird, and it was not a plane — it was a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching 25 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.
Residents across the Central Valley were left looking skyward Monday evening, wondering what streaked across the horizon.
The rocket lifted off at 7:50 p.m. PT from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
This mission marked the first flight for the booster supporting this Starlink launch. After separating from the second stage, the first stage landed safely on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
While the launch was visible across the Central Valley, residents in coastal counties such as Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura may have heard one or more sonic booms, depending on local weather and other conditions.
Watch Falcon 9 launch 25 @Starlink satellites to orbit from California https://t.co/mIjrzkMnZS
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 7, 2026
When Is the Next Launch?
SpaceX has two more Starlink missions scheduled from Vandenberg later this month. On Friday, a Falcon 9 is set to launch 25 satellites using a booster on its 32nd flight, followed by another Starlink mission Tuesday, April 14, with a booster flying for the 21st time.
Both missions will aim to land their first stages on the same droneship, and sonic booms may again accompany the launches for residents in nearby coastal areas.
Live webcasts of the upcoming launches are expected to begin about five minutes prior to liftoff and can be viewed on SpaceX’s X account.
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