Florida’s Space Coast is the home of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, where a record-breaking 72 orbital launches took flight last year.
A total of 22 rockets lifted off by the end of March, and officials have projected the 2024 total could reach an unprecedented 111 launches — led by SpaceX. The company’s Starlink internet-satellite constellation missions comprise the bulk of the Cape’s launch total.
Following are the latest missions coming up from Cape Canaveral. All launches are listed in Eastern Daylight Time. Be aware: Dates and times are routinely subject to change for a variety of reasons.
For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. For more space news, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Friday, April 5: SpaceX Starlink
Though SpaceX has yet to announce this mission, a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning shows the next 4½-hour Starlink launch window will open early Friday morning. More details:
- Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a batch of Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Launch window: 2:14 a.m. to 6:45 a.m.
- Location: Launch Complex 40.
- Trajectory: Southeast.
- Local sonic boom: No.
- Booster landing: Drone ship out on the Atlantic Ocean.
- Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Monday, April 8: ULA Delta IV Heavy final launch
After a March 25 scrub due to an issue with a ground pump on a gaseous nitrogen pipeline, a Federal Aviation Administration navigational advisory shows the next launch window will open on April 8. However, United Launch Alliance has yet to make an announcement.
- Mission: ULA’s last Delta IV Heavy triple-core rocket will launch on the NROL-70 national security mission.
- Launch window: 12:57 p.m. to 6:51 p.m.
- Trajectory: Due east.
- Location: Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Local sonic boom: No.
- Booster landing: None.
- Live coverage: Starts two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Early May: NASA’s Boeing Starliner crewed flight test
- Mission: NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will fly aboard a Boeing Starliner spacecraft and a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station.
- Launch: TBA.
- Location: Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
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