SpaceX Rocket Launch Delayed to Monday at Vandenberg

Weather Delays SpaceX Transporter-14 Launch at Vandenberg

SpaceX’s planned rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California has been delayed. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Transporter-14 rideshare mission is now targeting Monday afternoon, June 23rd, as the earliest launch opportunity.

The new launch window is scheduled to open at 2:18 p.m. Pacific Time and will remain open for 57 minutes.

SpaceX confirmed the postponement, stating the delay was “Due to unfavorable weather.” While the company didn’t specify the exact weather concern, recent days in Santa Barbara County have seen high winds. Weather forecasts for Sunday, a potential earlier launch day, included sunny skies but also projected strong northwest winds gusting up to 35 mph, suggesting wind was the likely factor. Rocket launches are frequently postponed due to weather or technical checks, making delays a common part of the process.

The Transporter-14 Mission: A Packed Ride to Orbit

The Transporter-14 mission is a dedicated small satellite rideshare flight, meaning it carries numerous payloads for various commercial and government customers rather than SpaceX’s own Starlink satellites. This flight is slated to deliver a substantial manifest of 70 payloads into a sun-synchronous orbit.

The cargo includes an assortment of small spacecraft types:

Cubesats
Microsats
Nanosats
Re-entry capsules
Orbital Transfer Vehicles (OTVs)

Three of the total payloads are integrated into the OTVs and are planned for deployment later, after reaching orbit. The deployment sequence for the remaining payloads is scheduled to begin approximately 54 minutes after liftoff and is expected to take a significant amount of time, concluding about 2 hours and 44 minutes post-launch.

A Veteran Booster’s 26th Flight

The mission will utilize a veteran Falcon 9 first-stage booster, designated B1063. This flight marks an exceptionally high 26th journey to space for this particular booster, making it one of the most frequently flown boosters in SpaceX’s fleet and highlighting the company’s successful reusability program.

Following stage separation after liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg, the booster is planned to perform a controlled return. It is slated to land on SpaceX’s droneship, named “Of Course I Still Love You,” stationed in the Pacific Ocean, approximately eight minutes after departing the launch pad. This recovery method allows SpaceX to refurbish and reuse the booster for future missions. Residents in the region, particularly in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties, may hear one or more sonic booms as the booster descends back through the atmosphere before landing.

How to Watch the Launch

For those hoping to witness the launch in person, several locations in the Lompoc Valley area near Vandenberg Space Force Base offer potential public viewing opportunities. Popular spots often recommended include:

The peak of Harris Grade Road
Areas west of Lompoc city limits, such as around Vandenberg Village (like near the intersection of Moonglow and Stardust roads)
Specific intersections like 13th Street and Arguello Boulevard (often cited as a close public site)

Ocean Park (provides a good vantage though not directly of the pad)

For those unable to watch in person, SpaceX plans to provide a live webcast of the mission. Coverage is typically scheduled to begin about 15 minutes before the targeted liftoff time. You can watch the webcast online at spacex.com/launches and on X (formerly Twitter) @SpaceX.