[Launch Alert] Saturday Launch Visibility

[Launch Alert]

                                SATURDAY LAUNCH VISIBILITY
                                       by Brian Webb

Saturday morning's scheduled launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg AFB appears to be on schedule. Plans call for the rocket to lift off from Space Launch Complex 4-East on south Vandenberg at 9:17 PST. Following liftoff, the Falcon 9 will rise vertically for several seconds before it gradually pitches over and heads towards the south-southwest as it parallels the coast. If the launch goes as planned, the rocket will place NASA's Sentinel 6 sea level-measuring satellite into orbit.

If the sky is clear, the first few minutes of the launch should be visible to the unaided eye along the coast from San Luis Obispo to Malibu and inland as far as Santa Paula, Moorpark, and Newbury Park. Observers in outlying areas may also be able to see the launch provided they know exactly where to look and have an unobstructed horizon.

For countdown status and video coverage of the launch, go to:

https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#public

https://spaceflightnow.com/

https://www.ulalaunch.com/

During previous launches video feeds have been up to a minute behind, so don't rely on them to know when events such as liftoff are scheduled to occur.