Falcon 9 Launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base Scheduled for Thursday Evening

Mission Overview

SpaceX is targeting Thursday evening, December 8, for the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a batch of Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch is scheduled to take place from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

This will be the 18th Starlink mission of 2022 and the fifth from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The mission will bring the total number of Starlink satellites in orbit to over 3,300. SpaceX plans to eventually deploy 12,000 Starlink satellites to provide global broadband internet access.

Launch Details

The Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from SLC-4E at 8:05 p.m. PST (11:05 p.m. EST). The rocket's first stage will be equipped with four Merlin engines, and the second stage will be powered by a single Merlin vacuum engine.

The Falcon 9's first stage will attempt to land on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean. The second stage will deploy the Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO).

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast for the launch is 80% favorable. The primary concern is the possibility of high winds at the launch site. However, SpaceX has a backup launch date of Friday, December 9, if necessary.

Live Coverage

SpaceX will provide live coverage of the launch on its website and YouTube channel. The broadcast will begin approximately 15 minutes before liftoff.

Significance of the Mission

The launch of the Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base is significant for several reasons.

• It will be the first Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg since September 2020.
• It will be the first launch of a Starlink mission from Vandenberg.
• It will be the 100th launch of a Falcon 9 rocket.

The launch is also important because it will help SpaceX to expand its Starlink constellation. Starlink is a satellite-based internet service that provides high-speed broadband access to remote and underserved areas. The launch of additional Starlink satellites will help to improve the coverage and capacity of the Starlink network.

Conclusion

The launch of the Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base is a significant event for SpaceX and for the development of satellite-based internet. The launch will help SpaceX to expand its Starlink constellation and provide high-speed broadband access to more people around the world.