Hey there, space fans! Exciting times ahead as we have three rocket launches scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base this week in sunny Southern California. Mark your calendars!
Among the launches, we’ll see SpaceX sending up its regular fleet of Starlink satellites, and there’s a NASA mission on the agenda too. The official word from Vandenberg and SpaceX typically drops about a day before the launch, so keep an eye out! The Federal Aviation Administration is constantly updating their advisory, but for now, several reliable websites show that initially we’ll see a NASA scientific endeavor and more Starlink satellite deployments.
If you’re a fan of watching SpaceX’s legendary Falcon 9 rocket take to the skies, then you’re in for a treat. The up-and-coming launches from Vandenberg should be pretty visible all over Southern California – might even be spot-on in Arizona.
But remember, while we’re all excited about these missions, rocket launches can face delays for many reasons. From bad weather to unexpected issues with the spacecraft, it’s good to stay updated. Make sure you swing by VC Star for the freshest news about the missions!
Here’s a quick look at what’s set for July 2025 at Vandenberg:
Upcoming Launches:
Tuesday, July 22: NASA TRACERS
- Agency: NASA
- Mission: SpaceX is taking charge as the launch service for NASA’s effort to send out twin satellites. They will be studying the effects of solar activity on Earth as part of the Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) mission.
- Rocket: Falcon 9, a towering 230-foot, two-stage beast.
- Launch Window: 11:13 a.m. PT, Tuesday, July 22, 2025
- Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base in California
- Booster Landing: Landing back at the launch site at LZ-4.
Friday, July 25: Starlink 17-2
- Agency: SpaceX
- Mission: Launching up V2 mini Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.
- Rocket: Falcon 9, standing strong at 230 feet.
- Launch Window: 7:09 p.m. PT, Saturday, July 26, 2025
- Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base
- Booster Landing: Will land on SpaceX’s drone ship, hilariously named “Of Course I Still Love You,” in the Pacific.
Tuesday, July 29: Starlink 13-4
- Agency: SpaceX
- Mission: Another deployment of V2 mini Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.
- Rocket: Falcon 9
- Launch Window: 8:39 a.m. PT, Tuesday, July 29, 2025
- Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base
- Booster Landing: Will also return to the “Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship in the Pacific.
Stay tuned for more updates from Eric Lagatta, your go-to Space Connect reporter with USA TODAY Network. You can reach out to him at elagatta@gannett.com.
Original article featured in Ventura County Star: California rocket launch schedule: Here’s what’s due to launch in July from Vandenberg
