SpaceX moves Vandenberg’s Falcon 9 rocket launch to Saturday morning, residents may hear sonic boom
VANDENBERG, Calif. – SpaceX said it is targeting a Falcon 9 launch of the National Reconnaissance Office mission (NROL-85) from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Saturday, April 16.
The launch was originally set for Friday, but SpaceX moved the target date on Thursday night.
Now targeting no earlier than Saturday, April 16 for Falcon 9’s launch of the NROL-85 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base; the additional time allows teams to complete pre-launch checkouts and data reviews.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 15, 2022
Officials said the launch window is now set for the backup time on Saturday, April 16, at 6:27 a.m. PT.
After an estimated eight minutes post-liftoff, SpaceX said Falcon 9's first stage will return to land at Vandenberg.
During this time, SpaceX said that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties might hear a sonic boom, depending on weather conditions and other factors.
SpaceX said that "a sonic boom is a brief thunder-like noise a person on the ground hears when an aircraft or other vehicle flies overhead faster than the speed of sound."
The SpaceX live webcast will go live about 15 minutes before Falcon 9’s liftoff at spacex.com/launches/nrol-85/.
For previous News Channel 3-12 coverage of this event, click here.
