A SpaceX rocket that launched Friday night from the Santa Barbara County coast was once again seen across San Diego.
The launch was scheduled for 8:14 p.m. from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The rocket soared south along the coast with a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The agency builds and operates the United States' fleet of spy satellites.
The first-stage rocket booster will land on a droneship at sea.
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The rocket was visible from around San Diego. Sunset was scheduled for 8:01 p.m. Friday in San Diego, just a few minutes before the launch window opened.
The rocket and its exhaust plume are sometimes visible for hundreds of miles as it soars along the coast, if skies are clear and dark enough. Launches after sunset and before sunrise usually provide the best views as the rocket reflects the sun's rays against the backdrop of a darkened sky.
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SpaceX launched 96 successful missions with its Falcon rockets in 2023, eclipsing its previous annual record of 61 orbital launches in 2022.
