What happened on September 1st?
Before talking about the return, let's clearify what happened in the first place. The rocket was being fueled for the static fire test. Basically they fire the engines without releasing it to test if everything works. Unfortunately the second stage oxygen tank ignited and blew up damaging the launchpad and completelly destroying it's payload: Facebook's communications satellite. The reason for explosion was ignition of solidified oxygen in helium tank. F9 uses oxygen that's stored just above it's freezing point instead of at boilling point as most rockets do. That lets them to get about 10% more fuel into the tank but has downsides too: if the rocket sits on the launchpad for too long and O2 gets too warm, they have to scrap the launch, unfuel and refuel again. Helium tank is made out of carbon composites and oxygen solidified between the layers. That caused it to move (solid O2 is less dense than the liquid one) and ignite. Scott Manley made a great video explaining the details of the anomaly.
Sunday launch
Next launch will happen on Sunday from Vandenberg Air Force Base outside LA. It will carry 10 satellites for Iridium NEXT. Hopefully booster will land on the landing platform 'Just read the instructions' (yes, that's how they named it) on the sea. They will livestream the launch on YouTube and I definetly recommend watching it.
Since LC-40 was damaged, they will use LC-39A that was meant to be used for Falcon Heavy, Dragon V2 (crew transport to ISS) an dof course, Falcon 9 and eventually replace LC-40. Construction started a few years ago. This launchpad is one of the most important launchsites ever: it was used for over 100 launches, from Apollo (including Apollo 11) to Space Shuttle and Skylab missions. They are also planning to use it in the future for ITS. In fact, along the site in Vandenberg, CA and LC-39A and LC-40 there is another space center under construction in south Texas near Boca Chica village by SpaceX.
Since LC-40 was damaged, they will use LC-39A that was meant to be used for Falcon Heavy, Dragon V2 (crew transport to ISS) an dof course, Falcon 9 and eventually replace LC-40. Construction started a few years ago. This launchpad is one of the most important launchsites ever: it was used for over 100 launches, from Apollo (including Apollo 11) to Space Shuttle and Skylab missions. They are also planning to use it in the future for ITS. In fact, along the site in Vandenberg, CA and LC-39A and LC-40 there is another space center under construction in south Texas near Boca Chica village by SpaceX.
UPDATE: Launch Delay
On Friday launch was dellayed to Monday, excpected to take place at 10.22. Unfortunately the weather at Vandenberg caused another delay. Launch will (probably) take place on Saturday, January 14th at 9:54 PST. In case you want to watch the livestream, that is at 18:54 by our time (GMT+1) and keep in mind that the stream usually starts around 30-15min prior to launch. Weather forecast for Saturday is perfect and static fire test (that's when September 1st explosion occured) was completed on January 6th so there should be no further delays.
UPDATE #2: The Falcon has landed
Mission was a succes. Finally, after multiple delays 10 Iridium's next generation satellites are in orbit. Few minutes after liftoff from Vandenberg, California, Falcon managed to succesfully land on Just Read the Instructions for the first time.
Full Webcast:
Their First Droneship Landing (CRS-8 Mission):