Final 2025 SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base

[RayzorBEV]

Hi y'all! I'm heading to Cali tomorrow in an attempting to kill 2 birds with one stone; watch the last 2025 Falcon 9 launching/landing and hit the Tesla Diner a few more times before it converts to a full service Tesla restaurant.
Anyone else going to watch, on location, the last SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base this weekend?
From SpaceX:
"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...Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base."
I'm looking for advice to the nearest, best viewing location that I can drive my Beast to. I'm told that a few nearby beaches and roads will be closed off prior to launch so I'm thinking somewhere around Ocean Ave & Renwick Ave.
Hope to see some of you out there!
Merry Christmas

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[ABILISK]

I’d love to, but saving up vacation time to be able to go to starship flight 12. Both closer and more exciting, although no Tesla diner haha. Have fun!

 

[RayzorBEV]

I’d love to, but saving up vacation time to be able to go to starship flight 12. Both closer and more exciting, although no Tesla diner haha. Have fun!

I'll be plotting my course to Starbase too ASA SpaceX announces the flight 12 schedule

 

[CyberT]

Dude! Thanks for making this post. I've said so many times that I'd drive over to Vandy to catch a launch but either forget of something comes up.

Launch is scheduled for 6:09pm pst.

Grok said this for the best view

 

[CyberT]

I just realized that this is a night launch. I've never seen a launch up close. Is it worth driving there to see the flamey thing pointing down?

From my house in Orange County I can see the stage 2 separation and the boost back burn perfectly. So is it worth it to drive 3.5 hours?

 

[ABILISK]

I'll be plotting my course to Starbase too ASA SpaceX announces the flight 12 schedule

See you there! @hemiarch @That Beast Mode and @CT_AZ_4x4 are maybes also. First flight of V3 will be one for the history books.

 

[RayzorBEV]

I just realized that this is a night launch. I've never seen a launch up close. Is it worth driving there to see the flamey thing pointing down?

From my house in Orange County I can see the stage 2 separation and the boost back burn perfectly. So is it worth it to drive 3.5 hours?

Yes if you are a total rocket nerd like me. I'll be driving over 18hrs for this final launch of 2025. The 1st stage will be landing there too

 

[hemiarch]

Yes if you are a total rocket nerd like me. I'll be driving over 18hrs for this final launch of 2025. The 1st stage will be landing there too

So starbase launches can be seen from quite a bit closer right?

 

[CyberT]

Yes if you are a total rocket nerd like me. I'll be driving over 18hrs for this final launch of 2025. The 1st stage will be landing there too

Sold! I'm coming now

 

[hemiarch]

Yeah…I’m pretty close to coming too. Can anyone recommend a place close enough to get a good view where I can set up the cybertent and awning and grill out with my kids? Wouldn’t necessarily stay there to sleep but could. The cybertent is an amazing toddler containment area though. So is the bed itself but it usually has stuff in it which is work to unload and reload.

 

[RayzorBEV]

So starbase launches can be seen from quite a bit closer right?

Yup. Most would camp out on the Mexican side for better viewing

 

[hemiarch]

Maybe I should just stick to the plan and try get the kids to starbase for launch 12. I’m just tempted by how much simpler of a trip California is for me.

 

[ABILISK]

Maybe I should just stick to the plan and try get the kids to starbase for launch 12. I’m just tempted by how much simpler of a trip California is for me.

But that’s also a little baby rocket in California as opposed to a massive awesome rocket in Texas

 

[hemiarch]

But that’s also a little baby rocket in California as opposed to a massive awesome rocket in Texas

Fair points

 

[KevD0g]

I just realized that this is a night launch. I've never seen a launch up close. Is it worth driving there to see the flamey thing pointing down?

From my house in Orange County I can see the stage 2 separation and the boost back burn perfectly. So is it worth it to drive 3.5 hours?

The booster is going to land back at the landing zone at Vandenberg so I think it will be something special to see

Watching it land back during the daylight would probably be optimal ( seen it twice).

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