Watch SpaceX’s Spectacular Rocket Launch Live: Time, Stream Link & What to Expect

Southern California’s clear night sky erupted in a comet-like glow Monday as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 roared off Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying another 26 Starlink internet satellites to low-Earth orbit. The reusable booster lifted from Space Launch Complex 4E precisely at 8:36 p.m. PT (03:36 UTC June 17) and reached orbit about 8½ minutes later, marking one of the most visible launches of 2025 for West Coast residents. Falcon 9 first stage B1093, flying its third mission, executed a pinpoint landing on the Pacific droneship “Of Course I Still Love You,” extending SpaceX’s record for recovered boosters and shaving millions off launch costs. Within an hour, the upper stage was scheduled to release the 26 satellites—designated Starlink Group 15-9—further expanding the broadband mega-constellation to more than 7,760 operational spacecraft. Why the spectacular sky show? Evening launches from Vandenberg often create a brilliant white plume as rocket exhaust catches high-altitude sunlight, while booster re-entry occasionally triggers audible sonic booms across the region. Social feeds from Los Angeles to Las Vegas lit up with photos within minutes of liftoff, making “SpaceX rocket launch” one of the night’s top trending search terms. How to watch the next SpaceX launch live • SpaceX hosts free HD webcasts starting ~15 minutes before liftoff on X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. • Third-party trackers such as Spaceflight Now and NASASpaceflight provide multi-camera commentary. • For in-person viewing, the Hawk’s Nest overlook on Highway 1 and Lompoc’s West Ocean Avenue offer clear lines of sight (arrive early—parking fills fast). Why this launch matters • Network growth: Monday’s flight continues the second-generation Starlink rollout, improving bandwidth over North America and the Pacific Rim. • Cellular connectivity: Friday’s Florida launch completed the first gen “direct-to-cell” layer; additional capable sats are expected from Vandenberg later this summer. • Booster cadence: SpaceX is averaging a Falcon 9 launch every 3.6 days in 2025, on pace to surpass last year’s record. Upcoming Falcon 9 missions from Vandenberg (subject to weather and range): • June 22 – Starlink Group 15-10 • July 8 – SARah 2 German radar satellite • Mid-July – Transporter-11 rideshare Residents eager to avoid surprise booms can sign up for SpaceX text alerts or track NOTAMs issued 24 hours before each launch. For continuous updates, bookmark SpaceX.com/launches and follow @SpaceX on X. With reusable rockets turning spectacular night launches into near-weekly events, keeping tabs on the next Falcon 9 ignition has never been easier—or more search-worthy—for skywatchers, photographers and anyone chasing reliable satellite internet.