This morning, SpaceX will launch a pair of WorldView Legion imaging satellites for Maxar, a space technology company, and give the Space Coast the thrill of a booster rocket landing with a sonic boom.
According to SpaceX, the launch window is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. EST. The satellites will launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40, just south of Kennedy Space Center. The launch will take place on a northeast trajectory.
The Space Force's 45th Weather Group predicts an 80 percent chance of favorable weather during the launch period.
When is the next rocket launch to Florida?Is there a launch today? SpaceX and NASA's upcoming launch schedule from Florida
Eight and a half minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage will return to the first landing zone at Cape Canaveral, creating a sonic boom. The sound is generated when the Falcon 9 rocket falls faster than the speed of sound.
No need to worry, the landing burns and net fins slow and steer the booster before landing.
And here's where the interesting stuff starts – viewers will see the Falcon 9 rocket fall before they hear the sonic boom. This is simply due to physics, as light travels faster than sound.
These two satellites will be the third and fourth in the Maxar series, which is planned to consist of six satellites in total.
Maxar says all six satellites will be in orbit by the end of 2024, with the final pair launching later this year.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lands
Update 9:08 PM: The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket just landed at Landing Zone 1!
SpaceX Take off!
Update at 9:00 AM: SpaceX just launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying Maxar satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Station.
SpaceX Launch Live Stream Begins
Update 8:48 AM: Now, the SpaceX launch webcast, hosted by X (formerly Twitter), is live above, just below the countdown clock.
The launch is scheduled to take place in 12 minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Station.
SpaceX launch countdown
Update 8:38 AM: Here's a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX's countdown timeline.
- 38 minutes: SpaceX launch director confirms fuel payload is ready.
- 35 minutes: Start loading high quality kerosene and liquid oxygen into the first stage.
- 16 minutes: The second stage of liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 7 minutes: The Falcon 9 rocket engine begins cooling before launch.
- 1 minute: The flight computer begins final checks before launch; the fuel tank pressure starts according to flight pressure.
- 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director confirms launch readiness.
- 3 seconds: The engine controller gives commands to the engine ignition sequence to start.
- 0 seconds: Take off.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket fueling process has now begun
Update 8:26 AM: SpaceX confirmed that it has begun refueling the vehicle in preparation for liftoff at 9 a.m.!
SpaceX rocket to land at Cape Canaveral!
Update 8:15 AM: Today, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket will witness its 16th flight. It has witnessed eight missions for the Starlink program, CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, O3b mPOWER, Ovzon 3, Eutelsat 36D, and Turksat 6A.
Eight and a half minutes after liftoff, the first stage of the rocket booster will land back at Cape Canaveral – allowing the Cape Canaveral area to hear the sonic boom!
Brevard Launch Operations Center Activated Ahead of SpaceX Launch from Cape Canaveral
Update 8:05 AM: All is well in Brevard! The Brevard Emergency Operations Center was activated prior to the flight's departure this morning.
SpaceX Launch: See These Photos From The Paris Olympics
Update 7:55 AM:Although not from Florida, SpaceX launched the first two satellites in its WorldView Legion series in May. Take a look at the images the first two satellites captured in preparation for the Paris Olympics!
Maxar reveals mission patch
Update 7:43 AM: Maxar has published a mission correction for this launch on X. The two gold stars indicate that this is the third and fourth satellites in a series of six.
SpaceX Launches From Florida Weather Forecast
Update 7:33 AM: Weather Service 45 is predicting an 80% chance of good weather for the launch this morning. Skies are currently clear in Brevard County, but active weather is on the horizon.
Brooke Edwards is a space reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at [email protected] Or on X: @Brook of stars.
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