Watch SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Launch from Vandenberg — Starlink Mission Nov. 23 (Midnight PT)

SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California during a four-hour window that opens at midnight Pacific Time on Sunday, Nov. 23. The two-stage, 230-foot Falcon 9 will carry 28 Starlink internet satellites to low-Earth orbit. A Federal Aviation Administration operations-plan advisory lists a backup opportunity the following day if the mission is delayed.

Launch details

The mission will deploy 28 Starlink satellites into a relatively low orbit, where the constellation can provide high-speed internet coverage by circling the planet quickly. This flight returns Starlink deployments after SpaceX postponed its Transporter-15 rideshare mission until the Thanksgiving week; earlier in November, the company's only other launch delivered the NASA-designed Sentinel-6B sea-level monitoring satellite.

How to watch

If you’re in California, there are vantage points near Vandenberg and farther afield where the launch and the Falcon 9’s ascent may be visible. For viewers at home, SpaceX typically streams launches on its website and on the X TV mobile app, with coverage beginning roughly five minutes before liftoff. The company may also post status updates on X (formerly Twitter).

About SpaceX and Starlink

Founded by Elon Musk in 2002, SpaceX is headquartered at Starbase in South Texas, where routine test flights of the 400-foot Starship megarocket take place. Most of the company’s orbital launches use the Falcon 9 rocket from sites in California and Florida. SpaceX also operates the Dragon crew capsule, which has transported astronauts to the International Space Station, and performs launches under contracts for NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, has grown into a constellation of more than 8,700 satellites that provide global internet connectivity. SpaceX has regularly launched batches of Starlink spacecraft for over six years, maintaining a frequent cadence of Falcon 9 missions.

Watch tips

If the liftoff proceeds on schedule, tune in to SpaceX’s webcast a few minutes before midnight PT for live coverage. If you plan to watch in person, check local guidance for viewing locations near Vandenberg and be prepared for late-night travel and chilled coastal conditions.

Reporting by Eric Lagatta.