SAN DIEGO — SpaceX launched another rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County.
The company scheduled a Falcon 9 launch as part of the NROL-186 mission.
SpaceX's previous rocket launches have been captured in photos and video flying across San Diego County skies just after sunset.
Targeted liftoff
The liftoff was at Friday at 8:14 p.m. PT.
The Falcon 9 launch was livestreamed on the company's X account and started 10 minutes before the planned liftoff.
The NROL-186 launch is in partnership with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and will support the NRO's new strategy of "numerous, smaller satellites designed for capability and resilience."
This is the eighth flight supporting this mission, SpaceX said. The company said that after the stage separation, the first stage will land on the "Of Course I Still Love You droneship," which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
Photos from previous SpaceX launches seen over San Diego
PHOTOS | SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket seen across San Diego County
What is Falcon 9?
According to SpaceX, Falcon 9 is a “reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond.”
Falcon 9 is considered the world’s first orbital-class reusable rocket.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is "the world's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more," according to the service's website.
The "constellation" of satellites consists of thousands of satellites that orbit Earth at an altitude of about 550 km, or 341 3/4 miles.
The satellites connect to antennas that users set up at their homes to provide internet access.
WATCH RELATED: SpaceX rocket lights up Southern California Monday night
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