It’s launch day — and, today, there’s a rare treat with a planned SpaceX Falcon 9 Florida doubleheader. Tripleheader if you count a third SpaceX launch scheduled for California later tonight.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY Space Team’s live coverage of the SpaceX launches from here, first at Kennedy Space Center and next at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
First up: a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the Eutelsat36D satellite at 5:52 p.m. from Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39A. It’s a telecommunications satellite for Africa and Eurasia. The Falcon 9 booster returned with a landing out on Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
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Just over three hours later, SpaceX will launch its next batch of 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Launch Complex 40. Launch of the Starlink 6-45 is currently scheduled for 9:02 p.m. SpaceX said the window extends until 10 p.m.
The booster will land on A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship in the Atlantic Ocean so again no sonic booms will follow this launch.
To add to the launch fever, over on the U.S. West Coast, SpaceX intends to launch another batch of 22 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. That launch is targeting 10:30 p.m. ET. If all launches go, that would mean SpaceX sent three Falcon 9 rockets up into space in the span of hours on Saturday.
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Meanwhile, the earliest the Delta IV Heavy could make another attempt after its Thursday scrub looks to be at 1:25 p.m. Monday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
We’re covering the second launch of the night live below. We’ll post the SpaceX webcast when it becomes available about 5 minutes before the launch. It will be right above our countdown clock.
7:50 p.m. Weather looking good for SpaceX Falcon 9 launch two
Just as with the earlier SpaceX Falcon 9 launch, the 45th Weather Squadron had forecast near ideal launching conditions.
They put the chance of weather violating a launch rule at less than 5 percent. The main concern: thick cloud layers.
It’s a little cooler as the sun sets on the Space Coast, and right now the sky looks decorated in the colors of Easter eggs as we await this second-of-the-night rocket launch.
7:40 p.m. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 booster another well-traveled rocket
This launch will mark the 18th flight for this Falcon 9 booster. Its most memorable previous launches include NASA Crew-3 and NASA Crew-4. This will be the booster’s 9th Starlink mission.
Where is the SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster landing?
This specific SpaceX Falcon 9 will land out in the Atlantic Ocean on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship — which will ferry the booster to shore in the coming days.
With it coming in over the ocean, no sonic booms are expected. No need to cover your ears tonight but you’ll still get that launch rumble if you’re close enough and the wind is right.
7:30 p.m. What is SpaceX Falcon 9 launching this time
If you missed the launch earlier this evening, here is your chance to see one tonight.
A group of 23 Starlink satellites will be headed to low-Earth orbit in what promises to be a spectacular night launch at 9:02 p.m.
This is the second in back-to-back launches from the Space Coast. The launch will occur from Space Launch Complex 40, which is at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX is in the process of transforming pad 40 into a facility that can also launch crews.
The launch window tonight goes until 10 p.m., and there are backup opportunities tomorrow, too, starting at 7 p.m.
7:20 p.m. Just over 90 minutes until Falcon 9 Starlink launch
We’re just over 90 minutes until the planned 9:02 p.m. liftoff of a Falcon 9 Starlink mission on what will be the second SpaceX launch from Florida today. For this launch, we turn to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
But first, below is a photo of the Falcon 9 that blasted off from KSC flying behind an American flag. Great capture by our veteran Space Photographer Craig Bailey
6:30 p.m. Next up: SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral
We’ll be back to bring you live countdown coverage of the SpaceX Starlink launch, which is set for 9:02 p.m. right now from Cape Canaveral Space Force Launch Complex 40.
This is a real treat — a double launch in Florida, including one nighttime launch. Nighttime launches can be spectacuar.
Also up tonight, SpaceX is hoping to make it a tripleheader with a launch at 10:30 p.m. ET from California.
6:10 p.m. SpaceX set to deploy satellite around 6:25 p.m.
The Eutelsat36D satellite will be deployed 33 minutes and 57 seconds after liftoff, according to SpaceX.
Next up: launch preps for the second SpaceX launch from Florida tonight.
6:00 p.m. SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands on drone ship
The Falcon 9 booster returned with a landing out on Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. This marked SpaceX’s 289th recovery of a first-stage rocket.
5:52 p.m. LIFTOFF!!
SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the EutelSat36D satellite from KSC, in what’s the first of two launches planned today from Florida’s Cape. A third launch is being targeted for California.
5:47 p.m. SpaceX Falcon 9 tracking no issues, weather is green
SpaceX says the Falcon 9 is tracking no issues. Weather is green meaning go for launch.
All is looking good for the planned 5:52 p.m. launch from Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39A.
5:43 p.m. SpaceX live broadcast begins
SpaceX’s launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, right above the countdown clock. Liftoff is scheduled at 5:52 p.m.
5:42 p.m. T-10 to liftoff of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket
Head outside if you plan on catching this launch! If you have clear skies, it will be hard to miss the bright rocket rising into the sky. And get ready for the rumble (my favorite part!).
At T-1 minute, the command flight computer will begin final checks.
At 45 seconds to launch, the launch director verifies they are go for launch.
5:30 p.m. What to expect after SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches
After launch, the rocket will reach Max Q, that’s the moment of the most mechanical stress, at 1 minute and 14 seconds into the flight. At 2 minutes 30 seconds, there’s MECO – Main Engine Cutoff. At 2 minutes 34 seconds, the first and second stage separate.
The first stage is set to land on the drone ship at 8 minutes 36 seconds into the flight.
The satellite deploys 33 minutes and 57 seconds into the flight.
5:25 p.m. Fueling appears to be underway for SpaceX Falcon 9 launch
Visual cues on the rocket indicate SpaceX has begun fueling the Falcon 9 ahead of a planned 5:52 p.m. launch from KSC’s Launch Pad 39A.
5:15 p.m. Waiting to hear if fueling underway for tonight’s first SpaceX Falcon 9 launch
If SpaceX plans to make the 5:52 p.m. launch, they will have begun fueling the Falcon 9 at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A.
SpaceX has yet to make an official announcement. Unlike United Launch Alliance and SpaceX missions for NASA, SpaceX doesn’t make audio from its launch control center available to listen in.
Once fueling gets underway, that means tonight’s Starlink mission would be locked in to lift off at 5:52 p.m. without any countdown delays, or else the launch must be postponed. But if fueling is not underway, SpaceX still has time in their launch window to pick a new launch time.
5 p.m. No sonic booms expected with this SpaceX Falcon 9 launch
Both of today’s launches will be landing on droneships in the Atlantic Ocean. Sonic booms are not expected.
This first Falcon 9 will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship.
But while there won’t be sonic booms, expect a rumble as the sound wave hits you after liftoff.
SpaceX just posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “all systems are looking good and there are blue skies” over the launch pad.
4:55 p.m. SpaceX Falcon 9 launch prep underway
Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch from Kennedy Space Center.
The launch window is 5:52 p.m. to 8 p.m. At this point, we’re anticipating a launch at the opening of the window but we’ll let you know if that changes.
4:52 p.m. One hour to planned SpaceX Falcon 9 launch
With one hour to go until launch, we’re looking for some key milestones. The first critical one is at At T-38 minutes, the SpaceX launch director will decide to “go” or not for fueling.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX’s countdown timeline. T-minus:
- 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
- 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.
- 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
- 0 seconds: Liftoff.
4:45 p.m. SpaceX aiming for three launches from three pads, two states
If all goes as planned today, this would be one for the record books. SpaceX is trying to launch three missions from three different launch pads in two states within hours of each other. First up, is the Falcon 9 EUTELSAT 36D mission launching from the storied KSC Launch Complex 39A.
This might be the most famous launchpad in the world. It’s where Apollo 11 launched on July 16, 1969, with astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins for the first mission to put a man on the moon. It’s also the location where the first and last launches of NASA’s space shuttle program occurred 30 years apart.
Want to know what other launch pads are active on the Space Coast? Here’s a great guide.
The second launch from Florida tonight is targeting 9:02 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Launch Complex 40 and the third launch is in California at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:30 p.m. ET.
4:25 p.m. What is SpaceX launching from KSC today?
EUTELSAT 36D is a telecommunications satellite which will serve Africa and Eurasia.
According to an Airbus press release earlier this month, the satellite was built by Airbus and has a 15-year life expectancy. Its purpose is to provide TV broadcasting as well as government services for Africa, Europe, and Eurasian countries.
The satellite was transported to Kennedy Space Center earlier this month after arriving in Stanford, Florida, via an Airbus Beluga transport aircraft.
4:15 p.m. Falcon 9 booster launching from KSC has a history
The most memorable of launches for this Falcon 9 may be CRS-26, a commercial resupply mission for the International Space Station which launched on November 26, 2022.
Overall, this will be its 12th launch.
In fact, every one of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 boosters flying on all three planned launches today have flown before.
4:00 p.m. Weather conditions for SpaceX Falcon 9 launches look good
With just under two hours to go to the first SpaceX launch, the skies over the Cape are cloudy with patches of blue. The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron had forecast a less than 5 percent chance of weather conditions violating the launch rules. The main weather concern: thick cloud layer.
When was the first SpaceX Falcon 9 launch Saturday
The first SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at 5:52 p.m. from KSC’s Launch Pad 39A.
When is the second SpaceX Falcon 9 launch Saturday
SpaceX will try for a doubleheader by launching a batch of Starlink satellites on another Falcon 9 at 9:02 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Launch Complex 40. That window goes until 10 p.m. There is another backup opportunity on Sunday starting at 7 p.m.
What’s the weather outlook for SpaceX Falcon 9 launches
The weather forecast is ideal with a less than 5 percent chance of conditions that would prevent launch, according to the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron. The main concern: thick cloud layers.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@FloridaToday.com
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