There’s a Spotify playlist to go with Vandenberg’s next SpaceX launch. Here’s how to listen

Update, Friday, 11:22 a.m.:

The SpaceX rocket launch was scrubbed 55 seconds before take off Friday morning. It is now expected to take place during its backup window on Saturday at 6:15 a.m.

Original story:

A SpaceX rocket is set to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday, and this time there is even an official playlist of sick jams to listen to while it blasts off.

If you’ve been feeling like the past few local rocket launches have been a little anti-climactic — what with the repeated last-minute scrubs and just the sheer volume of how many launches they do these days — a movie-soundtrack-worthy playlist of songs might be just what you need to spice things up again.

SpaceX is targeting a 6:19 a.m. launch of its Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex 4E near Lompoc, with a backup opportunity on Saturday at 6:15 a.m.

The first-stage booster supporting this mission previously launched Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, and seven Starlink missions.

Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

Company compiles playlist to go along with rocket launch

The joint-share mission will carry satellites into low-Earth orbit for both satellite company Iridium and communications company OneWeb.

To keep things fun, Iridium has once again compiled a soundtrack to celebrate its mission launch.

According to the company, the playlist is choreographed to go along with each second leading up to the launch — for example, liftoff occurs at “a very specific moment of ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC.”

“That song is forever the liftoff song. #SorryNotSorry,” the company wrote in its blog announcing the playlist.

So how does it work?

First you’ll need to find the playlist on Spotify in Iridium Communication Inc.’s account. Then select the Iridium-9 Launch Soundtrack from the playlists. All songs will be in the correct order.

Finally open up the SpaceX webcast — available at www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=iridium-oneweb — 15 minutes before the scheduled launch. When the SpaceX webcast countdown time reaches 6 minutes and 8 seconds, hit play on the Spotify playlist and voila — epic soundtrack initiated.

If you join in later, you can also still get in on the fun. Just follow Iridium on Twitter, where they will be live-tweeting what point they are in the playlist.

“We hope you join us on this musical journey!” the company wrote.

How to watch Vandenberg rocket launch in person

The SpaceX launch will likely be viewable from around the Central Coast, depending on the weather conditions and whether Vandenberg’s infamous fog makes an appearance.

There are several viewing areas around the Lompoc area for those interested in watching the spectacle live.

Cars often line up along Ocean Avenue, also known as Highway 246, with hundreds of spectators sitting on top of their vehicles or on the side of the road waiting for the rocket to come shooting up over the hills.

Other popular viewing sites include spots along Firefighter, Harris Grade and Santa Lucia roads.