Rocket Launch Today: What We Know

Alright, let's talk about the Sentinel-6B launch. Another satellite, another billion dollars (split evenly between the US and Europe, the press release tells us), and another set of promises about protecting coastal infrastructure. But is this really about climate science, or just another way to keep the aerospace contractors happy?

Parsing the Mission Specs

The stated goal is to measure sea levels with impressive accuracy – down to about an inch across 90% of the oceans. Karen St. Germain from NASA is quoted saying this data "underpins navigation, search and rescue and industries like commercial fishing and shipping." All well and good. But the real story, the one they’re dancing around, is sea-level rise. The Trump-era policy of avoiding the phrase "climate change" seems to linger, even in 2025.

Now, an inch of accuracy sounds great, but let's put that in perspective. The satellite orbits at 830 miles (1,336 km). That's like trying to measure the height of a ripple in a swimming pool from the top of Mount Everest. The tech is impressive, sure, but what's the actual value of this data? Is it really improving flood predictions, or just giving politicians something to point at?

And here's where I start to get skeptical. The article mentions this satellite is replacing its "predecessor twin," the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, launched back in 2020. So, we're spending another billion dollars to continue measurements that have already been ongoing for five years? What new insights are we expecting that justify this price tag? I have looked at hundreds of these filings, and this particular launch seems off compared to similar projects.

The SpaceX Factor

Then there's the SpaceX angle. Falcon 9, serial number B1097, making its third flight. Reusing boosters is supposed to save money, right? But this mission is part of a billion-dollar project. Are we really squeezing every penny, or is the "cost savings" just a rounding error in the grand scheme of things? SpaceX Falcon 9 to launch international satellite to keep watch on rising sea levels – Spaceflight Now

The launch itself is almost routine at this point. 9:21 p.m. PST from Vandenberg. Weather supposedly a 60% "go," improving to 40% the next day. Translation: it's California in November. Could rain, could be clear. Standard.

What is interesting is the FAA curfew. Launches restricted to between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time. Apparently, this is to "ease the strain" from a government shutdown that ended… when, exactly? Seems like a convenient excuse to push launches into the dead of night, away from prying eyes.

SpaceX gets an exemption for Blue Origin launches, but not this one? What's the real story there?

Spotting the Launch

For those who actually want to see the launch, the article provides a whole list of viewing locations: 13th Street and Arguello Boulevard, Floradale Avenue and West Ocean Avenue, Renwick Avenue and West Ocean Avenue. Sounds like a party.

Of course, Vandenberg is an active military base, so no public viewings at the launch complex. Gotta keep those secrets, even though everyone knows it's just a rocket going up. But it is an active military base, so the sonic booms could be interesting. Residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties might get a free show.

This is where I feel like I should talk about the online communities. But let's be real, the online chatter is the same as always.

So, What's the Real Story?

It smells like a boondoggle. A well-intentioned, scientifically valid boondoggle, but a boondoggle nonetheless. We're spending a billion dollars to measure something we already know is happening, with technology that's only marginally better than what we had five years ago. The data will be used to "protect coastal infrastructure," which probably means more government contracts for building sea walls that will eventually be underwater anyway. The climate is changing, and this satellite is just a very expensive way of confirming what the thermometer already tells us.