There will be a lot of excitement in Santa Barbara County this weekend, as a rocket carrying a satellite into space will attempt to land back at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
SpaceX is set to launch an earth observation satellite from the base Saturday night. In past flights from the base, SpaceX would land the Falcon 9 booster on a barge in the Pacific Ocean. But this Saturday, the company will try to land the booster at the base.
The launch is scheduled for 7:21 p.m. Weather permitting, the launch should be visible throughout the Central and South Coasts. But, you may also be able to see the booster returning to land. And, it’s possible people may also hear one or more sonic booms. SpaceX officials say an engine test on the launch pad Tuesday was successful.
SpaceX has successfully landed Falcon 9 rockets at Cape Canaveral. This latest mission is set to carry one of a pair of earth observation satellite for Argentina into orbit, which are intended to help detect things like flooding and mudslides.
