Two SpaceX rocket launches this week could light up Big Bear's night sky

SpaceX is sending up Falcon 9 rockets from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Wednesday and Sunday mornings — both visible to Californians, including mountain residents with some of the best dark skies in Southern California.

Night owls and early risers in Big Bear Valley will have two chances this week to spot a SpaceX launch streak across the pre-dawn sky. The Starlink 15-23 mission opens its launch window at 12:46 a.m. PT on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, running through 4:46 a.m., while the Starlink 15-24 mission follows on Sunday, September 6, 2026, with a window from 3:59 to 7:59 a.m. PT.[1] Both launches originate from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg, located on California's Central Coast.

What's going up

Each mission will deploy 27 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 — a 230-foot, two-stage reusable rocket capable of lifting more than 50,000 pounds of cargo.[1] One of the more dramatic moments to watch for: after each launch, SpaceX plans to land the rocket booster on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean nicknamed "Of Course I Still Love You."[1] The booster return often produces a bright secondary glow visible from inland Southern California.

Big Bear Valley sits well above the surrounding lowlands and away from significant light pollution, typically offering viewing conditions that exceed what's available in the valleys below — though local cloud cover or marine influence can vary on any given night. No local astronomer or National Weather Service forecast for viewing conditions at launch time was available to confirm conditions for either window.

Californians and potentially Arizonans are expected to have a view, but SpaceX and observers note that delays are common in spaceflight, so plans can shift right up to liftoff.[1]

What to watch for

Check SpaceX's launch updates at spacex.com as each window approaches for any schedule changes. Step outside and face west in the early morning hours — launches from Vandenberg often appear as a bright, moving streak of light followed by an expanding plume as the rocket climbs through the upper atmosphere.