A reliable source tells me that SpaceX will be doing LZ (Landing Zone) F9 first stage recoveries at Vandenburg before the end of this year (as opposed to the ASDS stage recoveries they have been doing off the coast of California). Which will make watching launches there twice as exciting!
Of course the public won't be able to see the first stage touchdown because there are hills in the way, but they will be able to see the stage descending for the final few seconds and see the landing burn, weather permitting.
My wife and I will definitely be going to see those launch/landings!
According to this page Launch Schedule – Spaceflight Now the next Vandenburg launch is sometime in August, the Iridium Next 21-30 mission. I doubt the LZ will be ready by then, but I can't be sure.
The Iridium Next 31-40 mission is planned for October and Iridium Next 41-50 is planned for December. So maybe an LZ landing will be attempted for those missions. Of course the timeframe may slip.
Of course the public won't be able to see the first stage touchdown because there are hills in the way, but they will be able to see the stage descending for the final few seconds and see the landing burn, weather permitting.
My wife and I will definitely be going to see those launch/landings!
According to this page Launch Schedule – Spaceflight Now the next Vandenburg launch is sometime in August, the Iridium Next 21-30 mission. I doubt the LZ will be ready by then, but I can't be sure.
The Iridium Next 31-40 mission is planned for October and Iridium Next 41-50 is planned for December. So maybe an LZ landing will be attempted for those missions. Of course the timeframe may slip.
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