SpaceX launch planned for the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation mission for the Italian Space Agency from its Falcon 9 rocket on Friday, Jan 2.<\/p>\n
SAN DIEGO \u2014 SpaceX plans to launch\u00a0another batch<\/a> of its Starlink internet satellites into low-earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday,\u00a0January 2, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n The company\u00a0plans a launch for the Italian Space Agency<\/a> from its Falcon 9 rocket.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to SpaceX, it is targeting\u00a0Friday\u00a0for a Falcon 9 launch of the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation mission for the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence\u00a0to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.<\/p>\n SpaceX’s previous rocket launches were seen by many flying across Southern California skies.<\/p>\n
The liftoff is scheduled for Friday\u00a0at 6:09\u00a0p.m. PT.\u00a0\u00a0If needed, an additional launch opportunity is available the following day on Jan 3 at the same tme.<\/p>\n Possible Delays: Rocket launches can often be delayed by a few minutes or to a future date due to several factors, including weather changes or any unexpected issues with the rocket.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is the\u00a021st\u00a0flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, SpaceX said. \u00a0The company said that following the stage separation, the first stage will land back at Vandenberg Space Force Base.<\/p>\n A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch on SpaceX.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Previous Falcon 9 launches were live-streamed on the company’s website.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
PHOTOS | SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket above San Diego<\/p>\n
According to SpaceX, Falcon 9 is a \u201creusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n Falcon 9 is considered the world\u2019s first orbital-class reusable rocket.<\/p>\n
Starlink is “the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more,” according to the service’s website<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n The “constellation” of satellites consists of thousands of satellites that orbit Earth at an altitude of about 550 km, or 341 3\/4 miles. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The satellites connect to antennas that users set up at their homes to provide internet access. \u00a0<\/p>\n WATCH RELATED: SpaceX rocket lights up Southern California Monday night<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0 ADD THE CBS8+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE \u00a0Roku | Amazon Fire<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n DOWNLOAD THE CBS 8 MOBILE APP | iPhone<\/a> | Android<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n CBS 8 ON SOCIAL MEDIA |\u202fFacebook<\/a>\u202f|\u202fTwitter<\/a>\u202f|\u202fInstagram<\/a>\u202f|\u202fYouTube<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nTarget for liftoff <\/p>\n
\nPrevious SpaceX launches <\/p>\n
\nPhotos from previous SpaceX launches seen over San Diego <\/p>\n
\nWhat is Falcon 9? <\/p>\n
\nWhat is Starlink? <\/p>\n
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