SpaceX Falcon 9 to Launch 28 Starlink Satellites from Vandenberg — When and Where to Watch (Nov. 6)

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch from Vandenberg — What to Know

Date & time: SpaceX is targeting Thursday, Nov. 6, with a four-hour launch window that opens at 12:56 p.m. PT. The Federal Aviation Administration lists a backup opportunity the following day if weather or technical issues force a scrub.

Launch site: The mission will lift off from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County. Vandenberg is an active military installation and does not host official public viewing areas.

Rocket & payload: A two-stage, 230-foot Falcon 9 will fly a southeast trajectory and deploy 28 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. After stage separation, the first-stage booster is planned to return and land on SpaceX's drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific for reuse.

Where to watch from the public

If skies are clear, several public vantage points across Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties offer good views. Expect heavy traffic and limited parking near popular sites; check local guidance before you go.

• Santa Barbara County (near Lompoc): 13th St. & Arguello Blvd; Floradale Ave & W. Ocean Ave (official SLC-6 viewing site); Renwick Ave & W. Ocean Ave; Santa Lucia Canyon Rd & Victory Rd (partial view of Complex 4).
• Lompoc favorites: Ocean Park (6851 Ocean Park Rd — ~4 miles from the pad, limited parking), Allan Hancock College (1 Hancock Dr — ~9 miles), Riverbend Park (N A St & McLaughlin Rd), Surf Beach on Ocean Ave (close but requires crossing the Amtrak Surf Station track).
• Ventura County: Ventura Pier (750 E. Harbor Blvd), Emma Wood State Beach, Serra Cross Park (Grant Park, 501 Poli St), San Buenaventura State Beach (901 San Pedro St), Cemetery Memorial Park.
• San Luis Obispo County: Avila Beach, Pismo Beach (≈38 miles), Shell Beach parks (Eldwayen Ocean Park, Margo Dodd Park, Dinosaur Caves Park), Oceano Dunes (open-sky views), Morro Strand State Beach and Cayucos south-facing beaches.

How far away you might see or hear it

On clear nights or early mornings, the Falcon 9 can sometimes be seen much farther down the coast. Cities where the rocket might be visible on its southern trajectory include Long Beach (~180 miles), Lake Forest (~200 miles), San Diego (~280 miles) and, to the north, Merced (200+ miles). Residents in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties may also hear the low rumble or brief sonic booms associated with launches.

Safety & travel tips

• Because Vandenberg is an operational base, obey closures and any law-enforcement directions.
• Arrive early and plan for limited parking; some roads and beach accesses may close when lots fill.
• Be cautious near train tracks (Amtrak Surf Station) — trains can resume service unexpectedly if a launch is postponed.
• Monitor SpaceX and local news outlets (for example, Ventura County Star) for real-time updates and postponements.

Context: SpaceX and Starlink

Founded by Elon Musk in 2002, SpaceX is headquartered at Starbase in South Texas, where it also tests the 400-foot Starship megarocket. The company conducts frequent Falcon 9 launches from California and Florida to deliver Starlink satellites, service government and commercial customers, and support crewed missions with the Dragon spacecraft. Recent private human missions include Fram2 (April 2025) and the Polaris Dawn commercial mission (September 2024).

Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation, now numbering more than 8,700 satellites. Unlike geostationary systems ~22,236 miles up, Starlink satellites operate in low-Earth orbit (~341 miles), reducing latency and improving performance for streaming, gaming and video calls — and expanding broadband access in rural and underserved areas.

Note: Spaceflight schedules often change. Confirm the launch time and viewing access with SpaceX and local news before traveling to a viewing site.