The Grand Finale: SpaceX’s Starlink Launch Scheduled for Saturday Night!

The last Falcon 9 launch of Starlink low-orbiting satellites from California for this year is set to lift off this weekend, as stated by SpaceX.

The launch window for 22 telecommunications satellites is scheduled between 5:48 p.m. and 9:31 p.m. PST on Saturday, Dec. 28, from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

If necessary, additional launch windows will be available starting at 5:12 p.m. PST on Sunday, Dec. 29.

As the launch occurs shortly after sunset, there’s an increased opportunity to gaze skyward and witness the “twilight phenomena,” resembling gaseous clouds known as nebulae in the depths of space. 

As exhaust from the rocket cools and drifts like clouds through the atmosphere, sunlight permeates them. The illumination is then refracted through the frozen exhaust compounds at varying wavelengths, producing stunning displays of color.

Residents of the High Desert should look toward the west to see the launch and the vibrant spectacle.

A live broadcast of the mission will commence approximately five minutes prior to liftoff, which can be viewed on X @SpaceX or spacex.com.

This launch represents the 16th flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which has previously conducted missions for SARah-2, Transporter-11, SDA-0A, and 12 Starlink launches. 

After stage separation, the first stage will land on the “Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship, located in the Pacific Ocean.

Busy launch year

On Dec. 24, Digital Trends reported that SpaceX has achieved its most active year to date for rocket launches, with the spaceflight organization led by Elon Musk executing 129 Falcon 9 flights, two Falcon Heavy flights, and three Starship flights. 

The Falcon rocket launches primarily involved deploying satellites for Starlink, SpaceX’s internet service from space. However, there were also over 20 launches for various commercial clients, an increase from 12 in 2023. 

Meanwhile, launches related to government contracts rose to approximately 18 for the year, as reported by Digital Trends.

SpaceX’s 2025 campaign

Officials at SpaceX anticipate that 2025 will be even more hectic, striving to accommodate more clients than ever. 

SpaceX also aims to escalate testing of its powerful Starship rocket, with as many as 25 launches planned for the coming year, as per Digital Trends.

To date, the rocket has completed only six flights, with the inaugural launch occurring in April 2023. SpaceX has obtained authorization for the Starship’s seventh test flight, which some sources suggest might occur in early January.

The Starship rocket is said to generate an unprecedented 17 million pounds of thrust upon takeoff. 

SpaceX

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturing and space transport services organization based in Hawthorne, California.

SpaceX was established in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the intent of decreasing space transportation expenses and facilitating the colonization of Mars. 

SpaceX operates from several launch pads, including Florida-based SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.

Additionally, it operates from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, mainly for polar launches. Another launch site is located in Boca Chica, Texas.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz can be contacted at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz