Officials at Vandenberg Air Force Base have confirmed a date and time for the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the RADARSAT Constellation Mission.
The launch is set for Wednesday June 12 at 7:17 a.m.
30th Space Wing vice commander Col. Bob Reeves is commanding the launch.
“Team V continues its dedication to assured access to space for the nation,”
said Reeves. “Partnership is vital to mission success, and we are proud to
share the load of this mission with SpaceX.”
The public can observe the launch from the Hawk’s Nest on Azalea Lane off of Highway 1 just over a mile south of Vandenberg’s main gate.
Observers may see the first stage of Falcon 9 returning to Vandenberg AFB, including engine burns associated with the landing. Residents in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties may hear one or more sonic boom(s.)
A sonic boom is the sound associated with shock waves from an aircraft or vehicle traveling faster than the speed of sound, according to a press release from the base. The boom sounds similar to an explosion or a clap of thunder and will depend on weather conditions and other factors.
RADARSAT is a Canadian remote sensing Earth Observation satellite overseen by the Canadian Space Agency.
