UPDATE (8:14 a.m.) – SpaceX has successfully landed the first stage of a Falcon 9 first rocket that launched three satellites for the Canadian Space Agency’s Radarsat program making it the second land landing on the west coast.
The rocket lifted off at 7:17 a.m. Wednesday from Vandenberg Air Force Base and a few minutes later the first stage appeared back over the coastal base northwest of Los Angeles and descended through thick fog onto a landing zone.
Successful deployment of RCM-1 confirmed pic.twitter.com/r7nv42pu06
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 12, 2019
The booster previously was used for a launch in March.
Deployment of the three satellites was scheduled to be completed just over an hour after liftoff.
The Radarsat satellites bounce signals off the Earth’s surface to create images even during adverse weather conditions.
The images are used for a wide range of purposes, including monitoring sea ice, disaster management and agricultural and forestry management.
UPDATE (7:39 a.m.) – The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base Wednesday morning on time.
The launch window opened at 7:17 a.m.
The rocket is delivering the RADARSAT Constellation Mission for the Canadian Space Agency.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/aIY0gJVoVY
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 12, 2019
When the rocket took off people in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties may have heard a sonic boom. That happens when an aircraft or vehicle travels faster than the speed of sound.
The public was invited to view the launch from a viewing area at the Hawk’s Nest on Azalea Ave. in the Vandenberg area, but some spectators may have had a hard time seeing the launch because of fog in the area.
SpaceX confirmed the Falcon 9’s first stage landed on landing zone four this morning.
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on Landing Zone 4 – SpaceX’s second land landing on the West Coast! pic.twitter.com/kjNAhcUcJj
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 12, 2019
This is the second time the booster has landed on the west coast.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 first-stage booster made history when it landed in Vandenberg Air Force Base in October 2018.
Now that the SpaceX rocket is in space, it is making its way to deliver satellites that will reportedly be used for maritime surveillance, disaster management, and ecosystem monitoring.
SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Wednesday morning.
The launch window opens at 7:17 a.m. and closes at 7:30 a.m.
The rocket will deliver the R The three Earth observation satellites will reportedly be used for maritime surveillance, disaster management, and ecosystem monitoring.
Following the first stage rocket separation, SpaceX will attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage back on base. This could cause a sonic boom audible across Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties.
Falcon 9 and RADARSAT Constellation Mission are vertical on SpaceX’s California launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base. After stage separation, SpaceX will attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage at Landing Zone 4 → https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z pic.twitter.com/BZHkDW3gQT
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 11, 2019
Patchy fog is possible Wednesday morning, but the rocket launch should be visible across much of the Central Coast.
For a closer view, Vandenberg Air Force Base will open the Hawk’s Nest for public viewing starting at 6 a.m. The Hawk’s Nest is located on Azalea Ln., just off Highway 1.
Need a hand finding the viewing site?The Hawk's Nest is located on Azalea Ln. off of Hwy 1 just over a mile south of Vandenberg Air Force Base's main gate. Gates open at 6 a.m. PT June 12 for the launch!
Posted by Vandenberg Air Force Base on Monday, June 10, 2019
SpaceX will also livestream the launch online. (See above or click here).
If the launch is scrubbed on Wednesday, a backup launch window is scheduled for Thursday, June 13, at 7:17 a.m.
