SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Sky-watchers in Southern California and across the U.S. West have the potential to witness Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket launch in the night sky from the Santa Barbara County coast.
The “Noise of Summer” mission, originally planned for Monday but now postponed to Tuesday, is expected to commence at 9:03 p.m. PT from Vandenberg Space Force Base, situated about 160 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. With the rocket’s exhaust plume possibly illuminated by the setting sun against the backdrop of a darkening sky, viewers in a large area of the U.S. West may have the opportunity to see it soar over the Pacific Ocean.
Rockets launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base often produce visible exhaust plumes that can be observed for hundreds of miles along the coast, especially when skies are clear. Launches just after sunset and before sunrise typically offer the best viewing experience as the rocket reflects the sun’s rays against the dark sky.
Scheduled for 8:08 p.m. Tuesday in Los Angeles, sunset will precede the rocket launch, providing ideal conditions for observation. Live coverage of the event will be available through Firefly and NASASpaceflight.com, offering an up-close look at the fifth mission of the Alpha rocket since its last flight six months ago.
The Noise of Summer Earth science mission will involve the launch of eight cubesats, small mini-satellites, from the 95-foot-tall Alpha rocket. These cubesats, selected as part of NASA’s Cubesat Launch Initiative, aim to address the issue of satellite congestion in orbit by enhancing relative navigation between spacecraft.
Included in the mission are two satellites designed to collaborate and improve navigation between orbiting spacecraft. This initiative represents a significant step towards managing the increasing number of satellites in space.
For further details on the eight satellites participating in the mission, interested individuals can access more information online. Additionally, a link is available for those seeking to learn more about the Noise of Summer mission launch and the upcoming activities.