SpaceX Targets Overnight Falcon 9 Launch from Vandenberg — Where to Watch in California

SpaceX is targeting an overnight Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday, Nov. 23. The two-stage, 230-foot Falcon 9 is scheduled to carry 28 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit during a four-hour window that opens at midnight PT. If needed, the Federal Aviation Administration has indicated a backup opportunity the following day.

Launch details

The mission will lift off from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg in Santa Barbara County on a southeast trajectory. After stage separation, the first-stage booster will attempt a recovery landing on SpaceX’s drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean.

This flight follows a Nov. 6 Starlink mission and a separate Vandenberg launch that sent the NASA-designed Sentinel-6B ocean-monitoring satellite into orbit. A planned rideshare mission, Transporter-15, was delayed from mid-November to Thanksgiving week, making this the next scheduled Vandenberg launch.

Where to watch

Vandenberg is an active military base and does not host public viewing areas. However, on clear nights the launch plume and ascent can be visible across a wide stretch of coastal California. Below are recommended viewing spots compiled from local tourism bureaus and launch-tracking resources:

Near Vandenberg / Santa Barbara County

• 13th Street & Arguello Boulevard — one of the closest public viewing points.
• Floradale Avenue & West Ocean Avenue — officially designated viewing site for SLC-6.
• Renwick Avenue & West Ocean Avenue — a common parking/viewing intersection.
• Santa Lucia Canyon Road & Victory Road — offers partial views toward Complex 4.

Lompoc area

• Ocean Park (6851 Ocean Park Road) — about four miles from the pad; parking is limited and roads may be closed when lots fill.
• Allan Hancock College (1 Hancock Drive) — roughly nine miles from the launch site with sightlines to the pad.
• Riverbend Park (N A Street & McLaughlin Road) — open fields for gatherings within about 10 miles.
• Surf Beach (Ocean Avenue) — very close to the coast; be aware of the nearby Amtrak track and access restrictions if schedules change.

Ventura County

• Ventura Pier (750 E. Harbor Blvd)
• Emma Wood State Beach — on the Santa Barbara Channel south of U.S. 101.
• Serra Cross Park at Grant Park (501 Poli St.) — panoramic coastal views.
• San Buenaventura State Beach (901 San Pedro St.)
• Cemetery Memorial Park (Main St. & South Crimea St.)

San Luis Obispo County

• Avila Beach — restaurants and amenities make this a good day-trip viewing spot.
• Pismo Beach and Shell Beach — several parks and coastal viewpoints.
• Oceano Dunes — wide, unobstructed ocean views near the coast.
• Morro Strand State Beach and Cayucos south-facing beaches — strong sightlines to Vandenberg.

Observers farther afield (Long Beach, Lake Forest, San Diego, Merced and other locations) may catch the illuminated plume after sunset or before sunrise when lighting makes the exhaust trail visible. Residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties could also hear sonic booms — brief, thunder-like sounds produced when a vehicle exceeds the speed of sound.

Safety and viewing tips

• Check local traffic and parking restrictions; authorities may close roads when viewing areas reach capacity.
• Be cautious near train crossings (notably at Surf Beach) and follow posted warnings — trains may operate if a launch is scrubbed.
• Monitor official SpaceX and local news channels or trusted launch trackers for last-minute schedule changes due to weather or technical issues.

Context

SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002 and headquartered at Starbase in South Texas, conducts frequent Falcon 9 launches from California and Florida to deploy Starlink satellites and carry government and commercial payloads. Starlink has grown into a constellation of thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit to provide lower-latency internet service globally.

Contributors: Jennifer Sangalang, Paris Barraza, Eric Lagatta