SpaceX Follows Spectacular Launch With Booster's First West Coast Landing
The Hawthorne-based company landed its rocket booster back at the launch site on the California coast
By Staff Report ••
David Biggar explains why SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket created such a stir over Southern California on NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2018.
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket and satellite into orbit Sunday night from Vandenberg Air Force Base and also safely landed the ship's rocket booster back to Earth, marking a West Coast first for the Hawthorne-based company.
The lift-off came at its scheduled time of 7:21 p.m. SpaceX handled a separation of the rocket stages in flight, creating a stunning sight in the night sky over Southern California, then landed the rocket booster back at its launch site on the California coast. People across Southern California and from as far away as Phoenix and Sacramento posted photos of the launch.
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg AFB, and Southern California reaped the rewards. Rick Montanez reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2018.
The primary purpose of the mission was to carry an Argentine Earth-observing satellite, known as SAOCOM-1A, into orbit, but SpaceX also wanted to expand its recovery of first stages to its launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, about 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
SpaceX had previously flown first-stage rockets back to land after Florida launches but had not done so on the West Coast. Previous recapture missions from Vandenberg Air Force Base have landed the rocket on a barge floating in the Pacific Ocean, about 400 miles out to sea.
David McNew/Getty Images
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying the SAOCOM 1A and ITASAT 1 satellites, as seen during a long exposure on Oct. 7, 2018, near Santa Barbara, California.
David McNew/Getty Images
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying the SAOCOM 1A and ITASAT 1 satellites, as seen on Oct. 7, 2018, near Santa Barbara, California.
David McNew/Getty Images
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, right, separates from the space craft behind the rocket trail after launching from Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying the SAOCOM 1A and ITASAT 1 satellites, as seen on Oct. 7, 2018, near Santa Barbara, California. After launching the satellites, the Falcon 9 rocket successfully returned to land on solid ground near the launch site rather than at sea. The satellites will become part of a six-satellite constellation that will work in tandem with an Italian constellation known as COSMO-SkyMed.
Mark Rogerson
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018.
Jennifer Flory
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018 from Ventura.
Jennifer Flory
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018 in Ventura.
Paula Danilczyk
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018 from Newport Beach.
Bruce Reigner
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018 from Covina.
Peter Binazeski
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018 from Signal Hill
Robin Ward
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018 from Upland.
Courtney And Travis
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018.
Kristin Odermatt
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018 from Westchester.
Daniel Barbier
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018 from San Jacinto.
Robyn Hernandez
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018 from Apple Valley.
Roberta Perkins
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018.
Mayor of LA
View of the sky over Los Angeles during SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launch.
Conan Nolan
View of the sky over Los Angeles during SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launch.
Kirsten Schieler
untitled
James Q.
A view of the SpaceX rocket launch Sunday Oct. 7, 2018 from Lancaster.
Joel Grover
The SpaceX launch on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, as seen from Hancock Park.
The launch employed the upgraded Block 5 version of the Falcon 9 rocket. The Block 5 is considered more durable than previous Falcon 9 varieties, capable of flying as many as 10 missions.
The rocket being used in Sunday's mission was previously employed in a June launch.
Booms from the Falcon 9 booster's re-entry into the atmosphere were predicted to shake the Pacific Coast as far southeast as Ventura County.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
"Sonic boom warning. This won't be subtle," advised SpaceX founder Elon Musk on his Twitter feed at midday Sunday.
Air Force officials have issued a warning that residents in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties could potentially hear one or more sonic booms due to the launch.
The mission created a spectacular light show visible across the Southland.
