On Sunday morning, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The payload was a Canadian satellite called CASSIOPE, designed to study the weather in spaaace.
Unfortunately, the mission was not a complete success, in that a planned second stage reignition that would have led to a controlled re-entry (and eventual recovery) didn't happen. SpaceX is confident that they're figured out the problem, though, and that the next launch should be flawless.
Seeing rocket launches from Vandenberg AFB is easy to do and very awesome. The launch schedule is available here (search the page for "Vandenberg"), and the best public viewing site is usually here, between three and four miles away from the launch pads. You're looking at a three hour drive north from LA, or a four hour drive south from SF. Totally worth it.
Via SpaceX
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