{"id":434191,"date":"2026-08-16T01:12:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T01:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/434191\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T01:12:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T01:12:12","slug":"spacex-to-launch-falcon-9-rocket-from-vandenberg-base-in-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/434191\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Base in California"},"content":{"rendered":"

SpaceX is set to blast off a Falcon 9 rocket<\/a> from California Saturday night on a secretive military mission.<\/p>\n

Little is known about the details, dubbed USSF-366<\/a>, including what exactly is tucked inside the two-stage rocket.<\/p>\n

Spectators watch as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying a payload of Starlink internet satellites into low orbit, in Lompoc, California, on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.) ZUMAPRESS.com<\/p>\n

The rocket is scheduled to launch at 6:50 p.m. from Vandenberg Space Force Base<\/a> in Lompoc.<\/p>\n

If the launch is scrubbed, SpaceX has another shot Sunday at 2:38 p.m.<\/p>\n

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The classified mission could involve deploying a batch of military satellites<\/a> into low-Earth orbit, according to several spaceflight outlets.<\/p>\n

SpaceX announced late this week that it would serve as the launch provider for the US Space Force mission.<\/p>\n

A SpaceX Falcon 9 mission that carried a payload of Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit in July. (Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.) ZUMAPRESS.com<\/p>\n

Despite the cloak-and-dagger nature of the payload, SpaceX plans to livestream<\/a> the launch beginning about 10 minutes before liftoff.<\/p>\n

The 230-foot Falcon 9 will haul the mysterious payload into space before its booster attempts to stick the landing on SpaceX\u2019s drone ship, Of Course I Still Love You<\/a>, in the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n

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The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket standing vertically on the \u201cOf Course I Still Love You\u201d droneship.<\/p>\n

The controlled landing allows SpaceX to recover and reuse the booster for future missions.<\/p>\n

SpaceX said people in those counties may hear one or more sonic booms<\/a> during the launch, although what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.<\/p>\n

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