First Stage Rocket Returns to Earth; Coast Phase Begins
The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lands at Vandenberg Space Force Base’s Landing Zone 4 in California on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, following the launch of the international Sentinel-6B spacecraft lifting off from Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex 4 East. A collaboration between NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Sentinel-6B is designed to measure sea levels down to roughly an inch for about 90% of the world’s oceans.
NASA
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage successfully touched down on Landing Zone 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California following launch of Sentinel-6B.
The Falcon 9 second stage will continue to coast for approximately 45 minutes before igniting for a brief, one-minute burn to align its trajectory with its intended destination in non-Sun-synchronous orbit.
About five minutes later, the satellite is scheduled to separate from the second stage and deploy into orbit.
Updates will be posted on the Sentinel-6B blog.
