SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Set for Nov. 19 from Vandenberg — Will Arizona See It?

What’s happening: SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, Nov. 19, for a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California. The mission, a rideshare called Transporter-15, will place multiple small satellites into sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). The brief launch window runs from 10:18 to 11:15 a.m. PT, and the FAA indicates a backup opportunity the following day if needed.

Mission details

The rocket will lift off from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg. This Falcon 9 flight follows a Nov. 16 mission that deployed the NASA-designed Sentinel-6B satellite and comes after a pause in Starlink deployments (no Starlink launches since Nov. 6). Transporter-15 will carry dozens of small satellites for commercial customers into a sun-synchronous orbit — an orbit that keeps satellites at a consistent local solar time as Earth rotates.

Will Arizona be able to see it?

Visibility from Arizona is uncertain. Two factors make seeing the launch from Arizona unlikely for many viewers:

• Southern trajectory: The rocket is planned to fly on a southerly path that may pass well to the south of Arizona, meaning the vehicle could be out of sight for much of the state.
• Mid-morning lift: The launch window is mid-morning, when daylight and solar glare make a rocket plume much harder to spot than a nighttime or pre-dawn launch.

Delays for weather or technical issues are common in spaceflight. If you plan to try to spot the launch, check local news and the SpaceX schedule (and azcentral.com for updates) for any changes or scrub notices.

Possible viewing locations in Arizona (if conditions and trajectory allow)

Because launches from Vandenberg can occasionally be visible from Arizona under the right circumstances, The Arizona Republic compiled locations that are good for sky watching. If the flight path and lighting are favorable, try:

• Dobbins Lookout, South Mountain — 10919 S. Central Ave., Phoenix
• Papago Park — 625 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix
• Fountain Hills (designated a Dark Sky Community)
• Superstition Mountains (about 40 miles from metro Phoenix)
• Cave Creek (about 30 miles north of Fountain Hills)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor parking garages (popular plane/sky watching spots)
• Black Canyon City, Yavapai County
• Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Goodyear
• Skyline Regional Park, Buckeye
• White Tank Mountains, Waddell
• San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Queen Creek
• Monument Hill on 115th Avenue
• Casa Grande (roughly halfway between Phoenix and Tucson)
• Suburbs such as Avondale and Queen Creek

Background on SpaceX

SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002, is headquartered at Starbase in South Texas. The company conducts frequent Falcon 9 launches from California and Florida, deploying commercial satellites and Starlink internet satellites, and operates Dragon crew missions that can carry people to the International Space Station. SpaceX is also developing the larger Starship vehicle and holds significant contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense.

Note: For the latest status, watch SpaceX updates and local news outlets for schedule changes or scrubs.

Reporting credit: Adapted from Arizona Republic / USA TODAY Network reporting by Eric Lagatta.