Brevard Space Coast Launch Pads Rockets SpaceX ULA NASA
Take a quick look at which rockets are launching from various Brevard launch sites.
It's launch day — and, today, there's a rare treat with the planned SpaceX Falcon 9 Florida doubleheader. A tripleheader if you count the third SpaceX launch scheduled for tonight in California.
Welcome to SpaceX Live from the Florida Today space team, first at Kennedy Space Center and next at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
First: A SpaceX Falcon 9 Eutelsat36D launched the satellite at 5:52 p.m. from Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center. It is a telecommunications satellite for Africa and Eurasia. The Falcon 9 booster landed and returned Read the instructions A drone cruises across the Atlantic Ocean.
Delta IV is severely delayed SpaceX knocks out rocket doubleheader as Delta IV Heavy delays farewell
Three hours later, SpaceX will launch its next batch of 23 Starlink satellites from Space Force Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. The launch of Starlink 6-45 is currently scheduled for 9:02 p.m., with SpaceX extending the window to 10 p.m.
The booster will descend Lack of gravitas Droneship in the Atlantic Ocean so no sound boom will follow this launch again.
To ramp up the launch fever, on the US West Coast, SpaceX plans to launch another batch of 22 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. That launch is targeted for 10:30pm ET. If all the launches go through, SpaceX will send three Falcon 9 rockets into space in a matter of hours on Saturday.
When to look for a Florida release Is there a launch today? Schedule of upcoming rocket launches for SpaceX, NASA in Florida
Meanwhile, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Delta IV Heavy may make another attempt after its Jupiter scrub appears at 1:25 p.m. Monday.
We watch the second release of the night live below. We'll post the SpaceX webcast when it's available 5 minutes before it goes live. This will be above our countdown clock.
As with the previous SpaceX Falcon 9 launch, the 45th Weather Force predicted near ideal launch conditions.
They put the chance of the missile breaching weather conditions at less than 5 percent. Main concern: Dense cloud layers.
It's a little chilly as the sun sets on the Space Coast, and now the sky is decorated in the colors of Easter eggs as we await this second rocket launch.
This release will mark the 18Th Flight for this Falcon 9 booster. Its most memorable previous launches were NASA Crew-3 and NASA Crew-4. This will be the 9 of the boosterTh Starlink mission.
Where is the SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster landing?
This particular SpaceX Falcon 9 will land in the Atlantic Ocean Lack of gravitas Droneship – This will carry the booster ashore in the coming days.
Since it is coming over the ocean, no sound boom is expected. No need to cover your ears tonight, but if you're close enough and the wind is right you'll get that missile sound.
If you missed the opening this evening, here's your chance to see one tonight.
A group of 23 Starlink satellites will enter low-Earth orbit in what will be a spectacular night launch at 9:02 p.m.
This is the second relaunch from the Space Coast. The launch will take place from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX is in the process of converting Pad 40 into a crewed launch facility.
Tonight's release window goes to 10pm, with backup opportunities starting tomorrow as well at 7pm.
We're just over 90 minutes away from the Falcon 9 Starlink mission's scheduled 9:02 p.m. launch today in what will be SpaceX's second launch from Florida. For this launch, we return to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
But first, below is a photo of the exploding Falcon 9 from KSC flying behind an American flag. Great image by our senior space photographer, Craig Bailey
We'll be back to bring you live countdown coverage of the SpaceX Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Launch Complex 40, now set for 9:02 p.m.
It's a real treat – including a double launch in Florida, a late-night launch. Nighttime releases can be spectacular.
As of tonight, SpaceX hopes to make it a tripleheader with a 10:30 p.m. launch from California.
According to SpaceX, the Eutelsat36D satellite will be deployed 33 minutes and 57 seconds later.
Next: Start preparations for the second SpaceX launch from Florida tonight.
The Falcon 9 booster landed and returned Read the instructions A drone cruises across the Atlantic Ocean. It was SpaceX's 289th recovery of a first stage rocket.
SpaceX has launched a Falcon 9 rocket from KSC carrying the EutelSat36D satellite, the first of two planned launches today from Cape Florida. A third launch is aimed at California.
SpaceX says the Falcon 9 has no problems. Weather means green.
All is well for a 5:52 p.m. launch from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A.
SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now live above the countdown clock. Liftoff is scheduled for 5:52 p.m
If you plan to catch this launch, get out! If you have a clear sky, it's hard to miss a bright rocket soaring into the sky. And get ready for the Rumble (my favorite part!).
At minute T-1, the command flight computer will begin final checks.
45 seconds before launch, the release director checks that they are about to launch.
After launch, the rocket reaches the moment of maximum mechanical thrust, Max Q, at 1 minute and 14 seconds. At 2 minutes 30 seconds, there is MECO – Main Engine Cutoff. At 2 minutes 34 seconds, the first and second stages are separated.
The first stage is set to land the drone on board 8 minutes and 36 seconds after takeoff.
The satellite will fly in 33 minutes and 57 seconds.
Visual cues on the rocket indicate that SpaceX has begun fueling the Falcon 9 ahead of its 5:52 p.m. liftoff from KSC's Launch Pad 39A.
If SpaceX plans to launch at 5:52 p.m., they will begin fueling the Falcon 9 at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A.
SpaceX has yet to make an official announcement. Unlike the United Launch Alliance and SpaceX missions for NASA, SpaceX will not be available to listen to audio from its launch control center.
Once the refueling starts, that means the Starlink mission will take off tonight at 5:52 PM without any countdown delay, otherwise the launch will have to be postponed. But if refueling doesn't take place, SpaceX still has time in their launch window to choose a new launch time.
Both of today's missiles will land on unmanned ships in the Atlantic Ocean. Sonic Boom is not expected.
This is the first Falcon 9 landing Read the instructions The droneship.
Although there will be no sonic booms, expect a rumble when the sound wave hits you after lift off.
SpaceX posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “all systems are good and blue skies on the launch pad.”
Ahead of SpaceX's upcoming Falcon 9 launch from Kennedy Space Center, Brevard County emergency management officials have activated the agency's Launch Operations Support Team.
Launch Window 5:52pm to 8pm At this time, we're expecting a launch at the beginning of the window, but we'll let you know if that changes.
With an hour to go until kick-off, we're looking for some key milestones. The first important one is at T-38 minutes, when the SpaceX launch director will decide whether or not to “go” for fuel.
Here's a behind-the-scenes breakdown of SpaceX's countdown timeline. T-minus:
- 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 16 minutes: The second phase of liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 7 minutes: Falcon 9 starts engine cooling before launch.
- 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch tests; The propellant tank starts to pressurize to flight pressure.
- 45 seconds: The SpaceX launch director checks the “go” for the launch.
- 3 seconds: The engine controller commands the engine to start the ignition sequence.
- 0 seconds: Liftoff.
If all goes as planned today, this will be one for the record books. SpaceX is attempting to launch three missions within a few hours from three different launch sites in two states. First, the Falcon 9 EUTELSAT 36D mission launched from the storied KSC Launch Complex 39A.
It is probably the most popular launch pad in the world. On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched with astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins on the first mission to put a man on the moon. It is the site of the first and last launches of NASA's space shuttles, 30 years apart.
Want to know what other launches are active on the Space Coast? Here is a great guide.
Tonight's second launch from Florida is from Cape Canaveral Space Force Launch Complex 40 at 9:02 PM ET and the third launch is at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 10:30 PM ET.
EUTELSAT 36D is a telecommunications satellite that will serve Africa and Eurasia.
According to an Airbus press release earlier this month, the satellite was developed by Airbus and has a 15-year life span. Its mission is to provide television broadcasting and government services to countries in Africa, Europe and Eurasia.
The satellite was transported to the Kennedy Space Center earlier this month after arriving in Stanford, Florida on an Airbus Beluga transport plane.
The most memorable launch for this Falcon 9 was CRS-26, a commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station that launched on November 26, 2022.
Overall, this will be its 12thTh launch.
In fact, each of SpaceX's Falcon 9 boosters is flying on all three of its planned launches today.
Less than two hours before the first SpaceX launch, the sky over the Cape is overcast with blue patches. The Air Force's 45th Weather Wing had predicted a less than 5 percent chance of a missile breaching weather conditions. Main weather concern: Dense cloud layer.
When is the first launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 on Saturday?
The first SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from KSC's Launch Pad 39A at 5:52 p.m.
When is the second SpaceX Falcon 9 launch on Saturday?
SpaceX will attempt a doubleheader by launching a cluster of Starlink satellites aboard another Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral's Space Force Launch Complex 40 at 9:02 p.m.
What is the weather outlook for the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch?
According to the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron, the weather forecast is excellent with less than a 5 percent chance of conditions preventing a launch. Main concern: Dense cloud layers.
Brooke Edwards is a space reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at [email protected]
