Will SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Be Visible from Arizona? When and Where to Watch the Vandenberg Launch

What to expect from the West Coast Falcon 9 launch

SpaceX plans to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County on Thursday, Nov. 6. The company has scheduled a four-hour launch window that opens at 12:56 p.m. PT. According to Federal Aviation Administration notices, a backup opportunity is available the following day if the mission is delayed.

The vehicle will lift off from Space Launch Complex 4E and carry 28 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit. Falcon 9 is a two-stage, roughly 230-foot rocket that SpaceX frequently uses for satellite deployments and other missions.

Will Arizonans be able to see it?

The rocket is expected to fly on a southeast trajectory from Vandenberg, which often takes launches over parts of Arizona. That means observers in the state sometimes spot a Falcon 9 streaking across the sky, particularly for nighttime or pre-dawn launches when the rocket exhaust plume and satellites are illuminated against a dark sky.

However, this launch’s daytime window will make seeing the rocket or the plume much more difficult from Arizona. Daylight washes out the contrail and reflected sunlight from the satellites, so visibility is less likely than for a night launch. As always, launches can be postponed at the last minute for weather or technical checks — check SpaceX’s updates (including its official launch tracker/X) and local news before heading out.

Suggested viewing locations in Arizona

The Arizona Republic compiled popular public vantage points that offer open skies and higher elevation, which improve chances of spotting the rocket or its plume if conditions permit:

• Dobbins Lookout, South Mountain — 10919 S. Central Ave., Phoenix
• Papago Park — 625 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix
• Fountain Hills — designated a Dark Sky Community (2018)
• Superstition Mountains — ~40 miles east of metro Phoenix
• Cave Creek — ~30 miles north of Fountain Hills
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport parking garages — popular for plane- and sky-watching
• Black Canyon City (Yavapai County)
• Any elevated mountain park in Arizona
• Estrella Mountain Regional Park — 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear
• Skyline Regional Park — 2600 N. Watson Road, Buckeye
• White Tank Mountains — 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell
• San Tan Mountain Regional Park — 6533 W. Phillips Road, Queen Creek
• Monument Hill — a 150-foot slope on 115th Avenue
• Casa Grande — roughly halfway between Phoenix and Tucson
• Avondale and Queen Creek suburbs — accessible vantage points near Phoenix

Distance, elevation, local lighting, and weather will all affect whether you can see the rocket. For daytime launches, binoculars or a high-zoom camera may help, but even then the plume can be hard to spot in bright daylight.

Why this launch matters

SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002, conducts regular Falcon 9 launches from California and Florida to deliver payloads including the company’s Starlink internet satellites. Starlink has grown into a constellation of more than 8,700 satellites, operating in low-Earth orbit (roughly ~341 miles) to provide lower-latency internet service to underserved and remote areas.

SpaceX also develops the much larger Starship vehicle at its Starbase facility in South Texas and provides launch services under contracts for NASA, the Department of Defense, and commercial customers. The company has supported private crewed flights such as Fram2 and other high-profile missions in recent years.

Before you go

Check SpaceX’s official status updates and local news (for example, azcentral.com and the Arizona Republic) for any last-minute changes. If the launch is scrubbed, any reschedule information will appear on those channels. For the best viewing odds, prioritize elevated, open locations with a clear southeast horizon and minimal light pollution.

Article originally reported by Eric Lagatta for the USA TODAY Network / Arizona Republic.