The mission is made up of 30 payloads for assorted government, commercial and international customers, including Korea Agency for Defense Development, Arrow Science and Technology, Exolaunch, HawkEye 360, Maverick Space Systems, Sidus Space, Tomorrow Companies Inc., True Anomaly and Think Orbital. About eight minutes after liftoff, Falcon 9’s first stage will return to Vandenberg, touching down at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4), just west of the liftoff location. A return to the landing site means residents in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties may hear a sonic boom signaling the first-stage booster’s return as the vehicle breaks the sound barrier en route back to Vandenberg. Sonic booms stem from the shock waves created by an aircraft or launch vehicle traveling faster than the speed of sound. The booms have been likened to an explosion or a clap of thunder, but sound at various locations can depend on weather conditions and other factors. Sign Up for the A.M. Report Keep up with Noozhawk's daily news coverage, delivered at 4:15 a.m. right to your inbox. Sign up This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Sonic booms, along with other launch-related noise, can vary based on weather and other conditions. It will be the 21st launch and landing for the first-stage booster, according to SpaceX. If the countdown is delayed for any reason, a backup launch opportunity is scheduled for 3:12 a.m. Sunday. Due to orbital mechanics, mission managers establish launch times depending on where the payload needs to be placed in space. Launch dates and times are subject to change at any time due to mission requirements. Vandenberg has restricted access, but several locations around the Lompoc Valley provide views of the launch and landing sites, which are south of West Ocean Avenue/Highway 246. The locations include west of Lompoc on Ocean Avenue/Highway 246 and near the intersection of Moonglow and Stardust roads. Providence Landing Park, at 699 Mercury Ave. in Vandenberg Village, also is a popular gathering spot. A live webcast of the mission is scheduled to begin about 15 minutes before liftoff, and can be watched at the SpaceX website and on X @SpaceX. Tagged: