SpaceX Falcon 9 lights up SoCal night sky

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lit up the sky across Southern California Monday night, carrying 25 Starlink satellites into orbit.

The launch took off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base after 8 p.m. Originally scheduled for Sunday evening, the launch was delayed due to weather conditions.

The satellites are targeted for low-Earth orbit.

“Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean,” SpaceX said on its website.

The company warned residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties that they might hear one or more sonic booms.

SpaceX operates a Starlink constellation of satellites orbiting about 340 miles above Earth. The network is designed to deliver high-speed internet around the globe. Under the right lighting conditions, the satellites can appear in a train as they move across the night sky.