Nancy Korda photo This week’s second Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base delivered two dozen more Starlink satellites into orbit Friday night. The two-stage rocket built by SpaceX blasted off from Space Launch Complex-4 at 8:52 p.m. with the post-sunset sky providing the perfect palette for some spectators to watch the ascent. Other would-be viewers, including around the Lompoc and Santa Maria valleys, were stuck with cloudy skies limiting the view. About eight minutes later, the rocket’s first-stage booster successfully landed on a droneship in the Pacific Ocean. It marked the 14th launch and landing for the mission’s booster. The rocket delivered 24 Starlink satellites as SpaceX continues to expand the constellation providing internet service to remote areas of the planet. Plans call for launching more than 400 additional Starlink satellites into polar orbit by the end of the year, according to SpaceX. That effort should double the capacity for customers in Alaska. Starlink already has taken steps toward debuting its third-generation satellites aboard a mission aiming for the first part of 2026. 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. As seen from the Betteravia Government Center in Santa Maria, despite clouds trying to interfere, the Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites blasts off Friday night from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Credit: