SpaceX successfully launches rocket with 140 payloads from Vandenberg

On Friday morning, SpaceX successfully lifted a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 140 different payloads from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Authorities warned that residents along the Central Coast might hear one or more sonic booms as the rocket ascends to orbit.

After postponing the previous attempt on Wednesday, SpaceX scheduled the launch for 10:44 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 4E, marking the Transporter-15 rideshare mission. The flight is sending a combination of cubesats, microsatellites, hosted payloads, and several orbital transfer vehicles to a sun-synchronous orbit. These transfer vehicles will later release an additional 13 spacecraft.

One notable payload is Umbra-11, provided by Santa Barbara-based Umbra, a U.S. company specializing in radar-imaging technology. Umbra operates a constellation of high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites.

The Falcon 9s first-stage booster for this mission is making its 30th flight, having previously supported numerous national security, Earth observation, and Starlink missions. After stage separation, the booster is scheduled to land on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

SpaceX cautioned that residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may experience sonic booms during the launch, with effects depending on weather and other local conditions.

Viewers could watch the launch live through the SpaceX webcast.

Author: Sophia Brooks