SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites from foggy Vandenberg launch base

SpaceX has launched 24 new Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on a foggy night with only Falcon 9’s engine flames appearing in visibility at liftoff.

The fog during this mission may be a result of a persistent coastal marine layer, which is common to the Central Coast of California in late summer and early fall. Vandenberg’s location along the Pacific shoreline, combined with cool ocean waters meeting warmer air masses, frequently leads to advection fog, where moist marine air flows inland and condenses into thick, low-lying stratus clouds or fog banks, especially at night.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base in thick fog

During this launch, the fog was stubbornly thick, blanketing the launch site and obscuring the ground-based cameras, though onboard rocket cameras were able to capture some views, but those were also having some visibility issues.

Before this mission, the weather forecasted 90% favorable conditions for the rocket launch, which allowed SpaceX to give it a go for the liftoff. Following the stage separation, the first stage performed a boostback burn and landed back on an Of Course I Still Love You droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean at about 8.5 minutes into the mission time.

With this launch, the first stage completed its 16th mission, previously supporting USSF-62, OneWeb Launch 20, NROL-145, and 12 Starlink missions.