KTLA

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lights up sky in Southern California

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was successfully launched out of Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California on Monday night.

The rocket, which was carrying carry 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit, met its targeted launch time of 7:30 p.m. and could be seen in the skies over Southern California.

Officials said this is the 15th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster rocket, including eight other Starlink missions as well as several other missions for the U.S. Space Development Agency.  

After successfully separating from its payload, the rocket returned to Earth and landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship in the Pacific Ocean.

Vandenberg Space Force Base is located in Santa Barbara County near Lompoc.

The entire launch can be viewed in the video player at the top of the page.