Launch details

Falcon 9 Block 5 | EarthCARE

SpaceX

Commercial • USA

Space Launch Complex 4E

Vandenberg Space Force Base

May 28 at 03:20pm

Launchpad time•-0800

May 28 at 10:20pm

Your local time•+0000

Current status

Launch Successful

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launch vehicle

EarthCARE

Mission

34.632

Latitude

-120.611

Longitude

Get notification

24 hours before launch

Get notification

1 hour before launch

Note: For all launches the scheduled launch dates and times are subject to change due to weather, equipment, crew and other factors.

Mission description

EarthCARE (Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) is a joint mission of ESA and JAXA. The main goal of the mission is the observation and characterization of clouds and aerosols as well as measuring the reflected solar radiation and the infrared radiation emitted from Earth's surface and atmosphere.

— EarthCARE

Image Gallery

Livestream

Launch stream

spacetv.net

Attending a launch in person

Viewing from the launch site is restricted to military and base personnel.

Public locations around the base provide excellent views, depending on weather.

Surf Beach: Best option for all launchpads if the marine layer keeps west, otherwise you'll get a poor view. Fills up fast on launch day. Closed from March to September to protect local wildlife and in the other months it'll sometimes be closed depending on launch trajectory.

Corral Road: Good option for SLC-2. The semi-official viewing area. 8 kilometers away.

13th & W Ocean Ave: Good option for the southern pads. The hills and marine layer obstruct your view a bit but this is the closest you'll get, it's just outside the security checkpoint. There are a few other good intersections along W Ocean Ave (notably Renwick & W Ocean Ave).

Harris Grade Road: Alternative angle for all pads. It's up high on a hill and above the marine layer so you'll always have a view but it's much further away at 17 kilometers.

How to get there

Rental car is easiest. Vandenberg Space Force Base is approximately 2.5-hours drive northwest of Los Angeles International Airport or 4 hours drive south of San Francisco International Airport. Note that although Vandenberg Space Force Base hosts commercial space launches it is primarily a military base and public access is limited.

Accomodation

Nearby hotels in Lompoc or Santa Maria.

Nearby parking

Parking available at the visitor center.

Agency details

SpaceX is a private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded by Elon Musk. It aims to reduce space travel costs and enable Mars colonization. Known for the Falcon and Starship rockets, SpaceX has achieved milestones like reusable rocket landings, Dragon spacecraft missions to the ISS, and the first private crewed spaceflight.