Brevard Space Coast launch sites rockets spaceX ULA NASA
A quick look at which rockets lift off from various Brevard launch sites.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team live coverage of tonight’s SpaceX Starlink 6-30 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX is targeting 11:20 p.m. EST to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, with backup opportunities available past midnight until 2:58 a.m. Tuesday.
The Falcon 9 will deploy a batch of 23 Starlink internet satellites, which are packed inside the payload fairings atop the 230-foot rocket.
No local sonic booms are expected. After soaring skyward along a southeastern trajectory, the rocket’s first-stage booster will target landing aboard a drone ship out at sea 8½ minutes after liftoff.
When SpaceX’s live webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) becomes available about five minutes before liftoff, it will be posted at the top of this page.
Update 10:12 p.m. EST: Per the National Weather Service, skies are partly cloudy with a temperature of 57 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
A northwest breeze is blowing at 5 mph, and visibility extends 10 miles.
Update 9:52 a.m. EST: SpaceX officials did not publicly confirm tonight’s Starlink launch attempt on X (formerly Twitter) until 8:16 p.m. EST, just more than three hours before the 11:20 p.m. liftoff target.
In its launch forecast, the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron pegged the chance of “go for launch” weather at 90% early during tonight’s window, decreasing to 80% as the evening wears on and cool, dry air filters in from the northwest.
“(Sunday), models are indicating that these upper-level clouds will likely increase in coverage and thickness as the window progresses. If the bases get low enough, this could be a Thick Cloud Layers Rule concern,” the forecast said.
“However, since these clouds will be associated with the jet stream instead of thunderstorms, there is more leniency in the rule to allow for a lower base without causing a violation,” the forecast said.
For the latest schedule updates at the Cape, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
Dr. Sarah Adams is a scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to all. Her articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
