Sun Jan 04 06:50:00 UTC 2026: SpaceX Delays Final 2025 Launch to January 2026, Italian Satellite Mission Set for Liftoff from Vandenberg
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, CA – SpaceX’s final mission of 2025, a Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, has been postponed and is now scheduled for January 2, 2026, at 6:09 p.m. PT. The mission, contracted by the Italian Space Agency, will deploy the CSG-3 Earth observation satellite into low-Earth orbit, replacing Italy’s first-generation COSMO-SkyMed system.
The launch was initially slated for late December, but SpaceX opted to postpone twice to allow for further ground system checkouts. A backup launch window is available on January 3, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
While public viewing is not permitted at the active military base, numerous locations in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties offer potential views of the launch, weather permitting. Possible viewing locations include parts of Lompoc, and locations mentioned by tourism offices in Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties.
Residents in these counties may also experience sonic booms, lasting up to 10 minutes after liftoff, as the Falcon 9 booster returns to Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg for recovery and future reuse.
The Falcon 9, a 230-foot two-stage rocket, is a workhorse for SpaceX, the commercial spaceflight company founded by Elon Musk. SpaceX conducts launches from both California and Florida, including Starlink internet satellite deployments and commercial crewed missions. The company also benefits from lucrative contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense.
First Piper 