[Launch Alert] Saturday Launch (CORRECTED COPY)

[Launch Alert]

The following is an announcement from Vandenberg SFB:

"The U.S. Space Force has approved the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink 17-18 mission to low-Earth orbit, Saturday, March 7, 2026, between 2:58 a.m. - 6:58 a.m. PT from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4).

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch at https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-17-25 and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the X TV app.

There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.

As a vital hub for space access and advanced air and space testing, Vandenberg SFB plays a critical role in strengthening America's national security through Assured Access to Space. In addition to the base's active spaceport, Vandenberg Guardians and Airmen enable essential missions such as nuclear deterrence, homeland defense, global command and control of space assets, orbital tracking, and the training of the next generation of space operations Guardians and nuclear Airmen."

If the launch occurs during darkness or deep twilight, the event could be visible over a wide area. If it happens late in the window, the orange flame from the first stage could be visible to the unaided eye up to 100 statute miles from the launch pad and either side of the Falcon's flight path. The vehicle will also probably produce a white vapor trail during the early portion of the first stage burn. The second stage burn will likely not be visible to the naked eye.

For a better view of the launch, use tripod-mounted binoculars or a spotting scope. An astronomical telescope with a low-power eyepiece will probably provide the best view.

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

https://spaceflightnow.com

https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-17-18

X @SpaceX

This information is subject to change.