Overview
- SpaceX plans a Falcon 9 liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4‑East at Vandenberg Space Force Base during a window that opens at 12:46 a.m. PT on Wednesday, Sept. 2, and the FAA lists a next‑day backup if the launch is postponed.
- The mission will deploy additional Starlink internet satellites into low‑Earth orbit, with sources differing on whether the payload is 25 or 27 satellites.
- The rocket is to fly a southeast trajectory that could make the launch visible across Southern California and in parts of Arizona, and SpaceX will stream a live webcast starting about 10 minutes before liftoff.
- National Weather Service forecasts show clouds in the Santa Barbara County launch area during the window, which could reduce public visibility and increase the chance of a scrub.
- The flight continues SpaceX’s high cadence of Starlink launches using the reusable Falcon 9, a workhorse rocket that has enabled frequent deployments to expand Starlink’s broadband constellation.