The U.S. Space Force has approved the launch of a SpaceX Falcon...

The U.S. Space Force has approved the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the NROL-105 mission with a return-to-base landing, Friday, January 16, 2026, with a launch window of 8:18 - 8:53 p.m. PT from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E).

Residents near Vandenberg SFB will hear one or more sonic booms approximately 8–10 minutes after liftoff as the Falcon 9 first stage returns and lands at Landing Zone 4 at the spaceport.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch at https://www.spacex.com/launches/nrol105 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 training the next generation of space Guardians and nuclear Airmen.

United States Space Force | Space Systems Command - SSC #CaliforniaisSpaceCountry #WelcometoSpaceCountry #GatewaytotheFuture