SpaceX is targeting Saturday, December 27 for Falcon 9’s 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 6:08 p.m. PT. If needed, there is a backup opportunity on Sunday, December 28 at the same time.

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.