SpaceX is targeting Friday, January 2 for a Falcon 9 launch of the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation mission for the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 6:09 p.m. PT.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the X TV app.
This will be the 21st flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission which previously launched Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, Transporter-10, EarthCARE, NROL-186, Transporter-13, TRACERS, NROL-48, and 11 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
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.
Launch, Landing, and Deployment
All Times Approximate
| Hr/Min/Sec | Event |
|---|---|
| 00:01:12 | Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) |
| 00:02:15 | 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO) |
| 00:02:18 | 1st and 2nd stages separate |
| 00:02:22 | Stage 1 flip |
| 00:02:26 | 2nd stage engine starts (SES-1) |
| 00:02:31 | Boostback burn starts |
| 00:02:37 | Fairing separation |
| 00:03:11 | Boostback burn ends |
| 00:06:37 | 1st stage entry burn begins |
| 00:07:02 | 1st stage entry burn ends |
| 00:07:53 | 1st stage landing burn begins |
| 00:08:23 | 1st stage landing |
| 00:10:31 | 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1) |
| 00:12:52 | CSG Flight Model 3 (CSG-FM3) deploys |