If you’re stepping outside tonight hoping to catch a glimpse of a Falcon 9 streaking across the sky, you need to look toward the West Coast. Specifically, the SpaceX launch location today is Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
While most people naturally think of the Florida Space Coast when they hear "SpaceX," tonight is a West Coast show. The mission, known as NROL-105, is a heavy-hitter for the National Reconnaissance Office. It isn't just another batch of Starlink satellites; this is national security stuff.
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The Logistics: Where to Look and When
The launch window for the NROL-105 mission opens at 8:18 p.m. PST (11:18 p.m. EST). If you're in the Lompoc or Santa Barbara area, you've basically got a front-row seat to one of the most powerful displays of engineering on the planet. Honestly, the rumble from Vandenberg hits different because of the surrounding hills. It's not the flat, swampy sound of Florida; it’s a deep, vibrating boom that echoes through the canyons.
Vandenberg’s SLC-4E is a historic pad. It used to host the massive Titan IV rockets back in the day. Now, SpaceX has turned it into a high-cadence machine. Tonight’s booster, tail number B1100, is actually only on its second flight. That’s relatively "young" for a Falcon 9 these days, considering we’ve seen some boosters fly over 20 times.
What’s Actually Onboard?
The NRO is notoriously secretive. They don't tell us how many satellites are inside that fairing. They don't even tell us the exact orbit, though we can guess based on the southerly trajectory. This is part of a "proliferated architecture"—basically a fancy way of saying they are launching a massive swarm of smaller spy satellites instead of one giant, expensive "Battlestar" satellite.
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If you're watching from the beach, keep your eyes peeled about 7.5 minutes after liftoff. Since this mission requires a Return to Launch Site (RTLS) landing, the booster isn't heading for a drone ship in the ocean. It’s coming right back to Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4), which is just a few hundred yards from where it took off. You’ll hear the sonic booms. They are loud. Two or three distinct cracks as the booster slows down through the atmosphere.
Why the SpaceX Launch Location Today Isn't Florida
Florida is busy getting ready for the next Starlink mission on January 18th from Pad 40. But Vandenberg is the go-to for polar and high-inclination orbits. If you want to cover the whole Earth as it rotates underneath you—which is what spy satellites do—you have to launch south over the Pacific. You can't do that from Florida without flying over populated areas or doing a massive, fuel-wasting dog-leg maneuver.
California's geography is basically a cheat code for secret satellite missions.
Quick Facts for Tonight’s Liftoff:
- Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5 (Booster B1100.2)
- Launch Site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA
- Target Time: 8:18 p.m. PST (Jan 16) / 04:18 UTC (Jan 17)
- Landing Type: Land-based at LZ-4 (Expect sonic booms!)
- Payload: Classified NROL-105 satellites
Pro Tips for Local Viewers
If you're actually in Lompoc, the "peak" of Surf Observation Park is usually the go-to, but it often closes for security during certain NRO missions. Check the local base notifications. Honestly, even just pulling over on Highway 1 or finding a clear view from the Santa Ynez Mountains will give you a spectacular view of the "twilight phenomenon" if the sun has just set, though tonight’s launch is late enough that it will mostly be a bright orange spear cutting through the dark.
Don't forget that Vandenberg weather is notoriously fickle. Fog can roll in and completely white out the pad in minutes. You’ll hear the roar, but you won't see a thing. It sucks, but that’s the Central Coast for you. SpaceX usually pushes through unless the winds are at "shear" levels or the lightning is a threat, which is rare for January in California.
What Happens Next?
Once B1100 touches down at LZ-4, the mission isn't over, but the public part usually is. SpaceX will cut the live feed shortly after fairing separation to keep the NRO’s orbital secrets safe. We won't get a confirmation of "payload deploy" until much later, if at all.
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If you miss this one, don't sweat it. The cadence is so high now that there’s almost always another Falcon 9 on a pad somewhere. The Florida launch on the 18th will be a Starlink mission (Group 6-100), and it’ll be a classic Atlantic drone ship recovery.
To stay ahead of the next window, keep a close eye on the SpaceX X (formerly Twitter) account or the Spaceflight Now live tracker. They usually have the most up-to-the-minute info on T-zero resets. If the countdown hits a "hold," it’s often because of a boat in the keep-out zone or a last-minute sensor glitch.
Actionable Steps for Tonight:
- Check the Weather: Use a local radar app for Lompoc, CA. If the fog is thick, find higher elevation.
- Sync Your Clock: SpaceX launches often happen to the exact second. Use a GPS-synced clock.
- Prepare for the Boom: If you are within 15 miles of the base, the sonic booms from the returning booster will rattle your windows about 8 minutes after launch.
- Watch the Stream: If you aren't local, the SpaceX live feed usually starts 10-15 minutes before T-zero.