The box above answers for today's date where you are, for launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base on the California coast. It also shows the next Vandenberg launch and the three after it. Times are shown in California, which is on US Pacific Time, and in your own local time. The box checks for changes every 10 minutes while the page is open.
For launches anywhere in the world, see Is there a rocket launch today?
Is the launch tonight or today?
The box uses your date, not the time of day. Many Vandenberg launches happen at night in California. In 2026, up to 26 October, 36 of the 68 orbital launches from Vandenberg lifted off between 6 PM and 6 AM California time, by our count of the launch list. A launch late on a California evening falls on the next day in most of the world.
Who launches from Vandenberg?
Mostly SpaceX. Its Falcon 9 flies from Space Launch Complex 4E, usually carrying Starlink internet satellites into orbits that pass over the poles. In 2026, up to 26 October, SpaceX flew 66 of the 68 orbital launches from Vandenberg. Firefly Aerospace and Northrop Grumman flew the other two. United Launch Alliance also plans Vulcan launches from the base.
Can I see a Vandenberg launch from Los Angeles?
Often, yes, at night. Vandenberg is on the coast north-west of Los Angeles. After sunset, a rising rocket can light up the sky across much of Southern California. That depends on the weather and the time of the launch.
How do we decide what counts as "today"?
These are our own rules:
- Yes means a Vandenberg launch is set for today's date in your time zone, with a set time.
- Possibly means a Vandenberg launch is listed for today but has no set time yet.
- No means nothing from Vandenberg is listed for today. We then name the next one.
Launch times can slip by minutes, hours or days, sometimes on the day itself. Check again close to launch, on the launch company's own website.
Related: When is the next SpaceX launch? and the rocket launch schedule for this week.