Launches just after sunset and before sunrise offer the best viewing opportunities. The rocket and its exhaust plume are sometimes visible for hundreds of miles as it soars along the coast, reflecting the sun's rays against the backdrop of a darkened sky. Sunset will be at 8:05 p.m. Tuesday in Los Angeles. The Falcon 9 will carry 26 Starlink internet satellites into space. The first-stage booster will return to Earth and land at sea on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship. Some residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties might hear one or more sonic booms. The launch, originally scheduled for Monday, follows the return of four International Space Station astronauts aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. The spacecraft splashed down early Tuesday morning in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. This article tagged under: