[Launch Alert] Launch on Schedule

[Launch Alert]

Friday morning's launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB remains on schedule for 3:46 a.m. PST. The following is an update on the launch from SpaceX:

NASA'S SWOT MISSION

SWOT mission coverage will be provided by NASA. Tune in to NASA.gov/live to watch the live broadcast, starting at 3:00 a.m. PT on Friday, December 16.
SpaceX is targeting Friday, December 16 for a Falcon 9 launch of NASA’s Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The 10-minute launch window opens at 3:46 a.m. PT (11:46 UTC).

The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

SWOT is an internationally developed mission to conduct the first global survey of Earth’s surface water. It aims to provide a new understanding of the ocean’s role in climate change and improve the data humanity relies upon for fresh water management.
To learn more about NASA’s science missions, visit science.nasa.gov.