Science The Desert Sun SpaceX plans 1st California rocket launch of 2026. How to watch livestream

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What was meant to be SpaceX’s final mission of 2025 from California will now be the first of 2026.

In the hours ahead, a Falcon 9 rocket could launch from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County on a mission to deploy an Earth-observing satellite. The mission, which SpaceX is contracted to carry out on behalf of the Italian Space Agency, was meant to get off the ground at the end of December.

SpaceX, though, opted to postpone the launch twice – most recently on Dec. 28 to “allow more time to perform ground system checkouts,” the commercial spaceflight company said on social media.

Still interested in seeing the rocket blast off to deploy its payload into low-Earth orbit?

While California residents have plenty of choices if they want to find a spot near the launch site to watch liftoff, SpaceX also always provides a livestream for those who want to stay home.

Here’s everything to know about the latest SpaceX mission, and how to watch a webcast of the Falcon 9 launching.

California rocket launches: SpaceX launches to increase in 2026 in California along with Falcon Heavy debut

Is there a rocket launch today? Next liftoff from California

SpaceX is working toward a launch from Southern California at 6:09 p.m. PT, Friday, Jan. 2. The launch will take place from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County.

A Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory suggests a backup opportunity is available the next day if the launch were to be postponed.

What is launching from Vandenberg? Falcon 9 to deploy Italian satellite

SpaceX will launch its famous two-stage 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket, one of the world’s most active, to deliver to low-Earth orbit the CSG-3 Earth observation satellite for the Italian Space Agency.

How to watch SpaceX launch livestream

Californians, of course, have plenty of opportunities to see a rocket in person both near the launch site as it lifts off, and further away as it soars overhead.

But SpaceX also provides a live webcast of its missions for those who prefer to watch from home or for those viewing the launch locally and looking for updates in real-time.

As with most SpaceX missions, the launch will be available to stream on the company’s website and its new X TV mobile app, beginning about 15 minutes before liftoff. SpaceX may also provide updates on social media site X.

What is SpaceX?

SpaceX is the commercial spaceflight company that billionaire Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, founded in 2002 and leads as the CEO.

The commercial spaceflight company is headquartered at Starbase in South Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The site, which is where SpaceX has been conducting routine flight tests of its 400-foot megarocket known as Starship, was recently voted by residents to become its own city.

SpaceX conducts many of its own rocket launches, most using the Falcon 9 rocket, from California and Florida. That includes a regular cadence of deliveries of Starlink internet satellites into orbit, and occasional privately funded commercial crewed missions on the Dragon – the only U.S vehicle capable of carrying astronauts to the International Space Station.

SpaceX additionally benefits from billions of dollars in contracts from NASA and the Department of Defense by providing launch services for classified satellites and other payloads.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 today on 1st California mission. How to watch