A Saturday morning launch is expected at Vandenberg Space Force Base, providing a wake-up call for residents in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties. The Falcon 9 rocket, dubbed Bandwagon-2, will carry 30 satellites into space on its mission.
The rocket’s first stage will return to Vandenberg about eight minutes after liftoff, touching down at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 4. This means residents may hear a sonic boom as the booster breaks the sound barrier during its re-entry.
Sonic booms are created by shock waves and can be affected by weather conditions. The launch is scheduled for 3:34 a.m., but a backup opportunity is available if needed.
Viewers can watch the live webcast on SpaceX’s website or X @SpaceX, about 15 minutes before liftoff. Vandenberg has restricted access, but several locations around Lompoc Valley offer views of the launch site.
The mission marks the 21st launch and landing for the first-stage booster, showcasing SpaceX’s capabilities. The exact launch time may be adjusted based on orbital mechanics, so residents should stay informed about any changes.
Source: https://www.noozhawk.com/spacex-launch-landing-at-vsfb-likely-to-cause-sonic-boom