What time is SpaceX liftoff?

For the third time in a week, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket could be visible in Arizona as it blasts off toward space to deliver Starlink satellites into orbit.

The next rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California is due to liftoff Friday, May 16. The impending mission is the third Starlink satellite deployment that Elon Musk’s commercial spaceflight company has conducted within a week from the California launch site.

Once again, SpaceX’s famous two-stage Falcon 9 rocket will get off the ground to deliver a batch of 26 internet-beaming satellites into what’s called low-Earth orbit – an altitude that allows for things like satellites to circle Earth fairly quickly.

Because of the launch site’s proximity, Arizonans across a large swath of the state may be able to witness the rocket soaring overhead.

Here’s what to know about the launch, as well as when and where to watch it:

What time is the SpaceX rocket launch from California?

The launch is targeted for 6:43 a.m. PT (9:43 a.m. ET) Friday, May 16, according to a launch alert from Vandenberg Space Force Base. If SpaceX opts to scrub the launch, backup opportunities are available starting at 10:32 a.m. PT Saturday, May 17, according to a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory.

The launch, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to deliver the Starlink satellites, will take place from Launch Complex 4E from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County in California.

Following the delivery and deployment of the satellites, the Falcon 9 rocket’s booster will aim to land on a SpaceX drone ship, nicknamed “Of Course I Still Love You,” in the Pacific Ocean. This allows for SpaceX personnel to recover the booster so it can be reused in future spaceflights.

How to watch SpaceX Starlink launch

SpaceX said it will provide a livestream of the launch on its website beginning about five minutes before liftoff, along with updates on social media site X.

California rocket launch could be visible in Arizona: Where to watch

Because of Arizona’s proximity to the launch site, there’s a good chance you can see the spacecraft streak across the sky.

Here’s a list of some possible viewing locations compiled by the Arizona Republic, a USA TODAY Network publication.

• Dobbins Lookout, South Mountain, 10919 South Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona

• Papago Park, 625 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona

• Black Canyon City, an unincorporated community in Yavapai County, Arizona

• Any mountain park in Arizona

What is SpaceX?

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., more widely known as SpaceX, is an astronautics company owned and co-founded by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man.

The commercial spaceflight company is contracted with NASA and the Department of Defense to use many of its spacecraft to help launch government missions. SpaceX also conducts many of its own rocket launches – most using its two-stage Falcon 9 rocket – including for private crewed missions and to deliver communication satellites to orbit.

What is Starlink?

Owned by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, Starlink is a constellation of more than 6,700 satellites that provide internet service to customers around the world.

SpaceX, a commercial spaceflight company, has spent more than six years delivering the satellites to orbit with a regular cadence of rocket launches from Florida and California.

While most satellite internet services operate from single geostationary satellites orbiting Earth at about 22,236 miles, Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites that operate from a low-Earth orbit, about 341 miles up. That allows Starlink’s satellites to have lower latency and data time between user and the satellite, improving performance of things like streaming, online gaming and video calls.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: SpaceX rocket launch today: Falcon 9 may be visible in Arizona