CCSFS

gps3-7 liftoff

It was a typical summer’s day here on the Space Coast: at first, sunny and warm, humid with an ever-present threat of a thunderstorm lingering off in the distance.

Two hours before liftoff at 11:30 AM, it was clear that thunderstorms were coming towards Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Two hours before liftoff at 11:30 AM, it was clear that thunderstorms were coming towards Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

An hour and a half before today’s launch, while the countdown clock was ticking towards T-0, the skies made good on their threat of a thunderstorm, with plenty of lightning strikes and heavy showers near Space Launch Complex 40, where the GPS III-7 satellite, also known as SV-08, waited atop Falcon 9 for liftoff just before the end of the launch window at 1:38 PM Eastern Time.

One hour before launch, with the range still red, skies were lifting.

Fortunately, there was a short gap between the first passing storm and the next one springing up on the western horizon, and SpaceX took good advantage of it as Booster B1092 fired up for its fourth mission and headed into a suddenly blue sky.

Other than the interesting weather, it was a typically normal mission for SpaceX: ascent was completely normal, with the booster reaching orbit about the same time as the second stage and payload. B1092 landed offshore on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ safely at 8:29 a second after the company announced a nominal orbit insertion of stage 2 and GPS III-7.

At 01:38 PM, the sun was out, skies were blue and Falcon 9 roared off of the launch pad.
Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

After additional burns of stage 2 were completed to place the payload precisely in its delivery location, GPS III-7 was deployed at T+01:29:28, marking another successful mission for SpaceX. It was the company’s 68th mission this year, and the 30th from SLC-40.

Payload

The Lockheed Martin GPS III-7 satellite is part of the next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation, delivering improved accuracy, resilience, and security to the overall system.

The GPS III series replaces older satellites to modernize the U.S. Space Force’s navigation infrastructure. GPS III-7 enhances positioning precision up to three times better than previous models and extends its lifespan to 15 years, reducing long-term costs and increasing operational reliability.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 12-19 Mission Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 12-19
Organization SpaceX
Location Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket Falcon 9 Block 5
Pad Space Launch Complex 40
Status To Be Confirmed
Status Info Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty.
Window Opens Monday, 06/02/2025 12:57:00 AM EDT
Window Closes Monday, 06/02/2025 4:57:00 AM EDT
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.
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Blue Moon Mark I

At the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium meeting at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory’s Kossiakoff Center in Laurel, Maryland, Blue Origin’s Senior Vice President of Lunar Permanence, John Couluris, said today that the company plans to land the first “Mark 1” version of its Blue Moon lander “this year.”

The plan seems bold for a company with one orbital launch on its resume, with a second New Glenn flight ostensibly planned for next month. Some signs of that second launch have been seen at Cape Canaveral, for example, the second stage planned for that launch was hot-fired at the company’s facility at Launch Complex 36.

Blue Origin NG-1
Blue Origin NG-1 launch. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

The payload for the second launch of New Glenn is currently slated to fly NASA’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (EscaPADE), a dual-spacecraft mission to investigate how the solar wind interacts with Mars’ magnetic environment and how this interaction drives the planet’s atmospheric escape.

The EscaPADE mission implies that any Blue Moon lander flight would come on a third New Glenn flight, sometime in the second half of the year. That said, spaceflight schedules and timelines are often extended as unforeseen problems slow the given project. New Glenn itself is a perfect example, as it came several years later than originally planned due to roadblocks and challenges that arose in the design and assembly of the rocket.

At the same time, Couluris has consistently stated that the Blue Moon lander mission would come sooner rather than later. “This lander, we’re expecting to land on the moon between 12 to 16 months from today,” he said in March in an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes. “That is what our team is aiming towards.”

The Mark 1 lander is a test mission, according to Blue Origin. “The Pathfinder Mission (MK1-SN001) will be a demonstration mission, with MK1-SN002 and beyond available to payload customers. MK1-SN001 proves out critical systems, including the BE-7 engine, cryogenic fluid power and propulsions systems, avionics, continuous downlink communications, and precision landing within 100 m site accuracy, prior to the uncrewed NASA Human Landing System mission for the Artemis program.”

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Starlink 6-67 launch. Photo by Ed Cordero

SpaceX launched their 57th mission of 2025 this afternoon from Cape Canaveral when the company sent the Starlink 6-67 mission to low Earth orbit aboard Falcon 9. Liftoff was at 12:38 PM EDT, right at the opening of the launch window.

Liftoff of Starlink 6-67. Photo: Ed Cordero, Florida Media Now
Liftoff of Starlink 6-67.
Photo: Ed Cordero, Florida Media Now

Following a “norminal” initial ascent and stage separation, Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1090 touched down on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ in the Atlantic Ocean, concluding its fourth flight. This booster previously launched the SES O3b mPOWER-E, Crew-10 and Bandwagon-3 missions, and will now return to Port Canaveral for offloading and refurbishment at SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center prior to its next flight.

The second stage and payload also had a “norminal” day, where they reached orbit a little more than eight minutes after liftoff. At 1:47 PM ET, SpaceX announced a successful payload deployment, marking another successful mission for the company (pending second stage disposal).

Starlink 6-67 rising on May 14. 2025
Photo: SpaceX

Payload

Today’s payload was 28 Starlink satellites that will now join the other Starlink satellites from Group 6 in the Starlink constellation.

That array of satellites provides Internet connectivity globally to over five million customers in over 125 countries and territories, spanning all seven continents.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Another group of Starlink satellites are scheduled to launch NET Monday evening:

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 12-15 Mission Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 12-15
Organization SpaceX
Location Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket Falcon 9 Block 5
Pad Space Launch Complex 40
Status To Be Confirmed
Status Info Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty.
Window Opens Monday, 05/19/2025 11:40:00 PM EDT
Window Closes Tuesday, 05/20/2025 12:46:00 AM EDT
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.

Please note that the launch window times are provided in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

For the most current information regarding the launch schedule and status, please refer to official updates from SpaceX.

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Falcon 9, Booster B1077, Astranis 'From One To Many,' September 20, 2024
Falcon 9, Booster B1077, Astranis ‘From One To Many,’ September 20, 2024

Last night the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) convened a virtual public meeting to gather stakeholder input on the SpaceX Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for proposed modifications at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC‑40) on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The session—rescheduled after an April 16 meeting was derailed by a nationwide Zoom outage—marked a critical opportunity for local residents, environmental advocates, industry representatives and government agencies to weigh in on SpaceX’s plan to increase Falcon 9 launch cadence and build a new first‑stage booster landing zone adjacent to the pad.

As it did in its March 2025 Draft EA, if the FAA grants the license modification with a FONSI (Finding Of No Significant Impact), Cape Canaveral could see a surge of Falcon 9 activity, which often sees two launches per week currently.

Conversely, a decision to proceed to a full EIS would extend the timeline and add further analysis layers, delaying the proposed expansion.

Background

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), any major federal action that may significantly affect the environment requires an environmental review. SpaceX has applied for a modification to its existing FAA launch license to:

  • Increase the number of Falcon 9 launches at SLC‑40 from 50 to up to 120 per year.
  • Construct and operate a new first‑stage landing zone (LZ) at SLC‑40 capable of supporting up to 34 booster landings annually. This new landing zone would replace the current areas at LC-13 at CCSFS, Landing Zone 1 and Landing Zone 2, which SpaceX has subleased while Vaya Space and also Phantom Space work towards their first launches on that site.

The FAA’s role is to evaluate potential environmental impacts of those actions—including noise, air quality, wildlife, cultural resources and socioeconomics—and to solicit public and agency comments before issuing a final determination: a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), a Mitigated FONSI, or a Notice of Intent to prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Previous Talk Of Titusville Coverage:

• SpaceX Planning To Build A Landing Zone Near Their Launch Pad At SLC-40

• FAA Posts Draft Environmental Assessment For Increasing SLC-40 to 120 Falcon Launches A Year

• FAA Seeks Public Comment On Increasing Falcon 9 Flights From SLC-40

• FAA Reschedules Public Meeting For SpaceX SLC-40 Environmental Assessment

Draft EA Publication and Public Review Timeline

  • Draft EA Issued: March 14, 2025.
  • Original Public Comment Deadline: April 24, 2025.
  • First Virtual Meeting Scheduled: April 16, 2025
  • Rescheduled Virtual Meeting: May 8, 2025, 6:00–8:00 p.m. ET.
  • Extended Comment Deadline: May 15, 2025.

The FAA’s draft EA and associated notices were published in the Federal Register and in local outlets—including Florida Today and Hometown News as well as here at Talk of Titusville — and hard copies were deposited at area libraries in Brevard County.

SLC-40 Draft EA 91711Download

The Virtual Public Meeting

The May 8 session was well attended and followed a structured agenda:

  1. Opening Presentation by FAA facilitators, explaining NEPA, project scope, analysis methods and opportunities to comment.
  2. Instructions for Commenting—attendees could provide verbal comments (recorded by a court reporter), or learn how to submit online via Regulations.gov (Docket FAA‑2025‑0114) or by mail to Ms. Eva Long at the FAA’s Reston address (address listed below)
  3. Verbal comment session, with speakers called in the order of registration or hand-raising. Ground rules limited comments to three minutes each and reminded participants about public disclosure of any personal identifying information in their statements.

Roughly 30 – 40 stakeholders participated live, including local business owners, environmental interests, space industry representatives, and Brevard County officials.

The slide deck presented is available for review here:

92766 PresentationDownload

Stakeholder Perspectives Shared

Local Residents & Environmental Advocates

In the meeting several speakers raised concerns about:

  • Noise impacts on nearby residential areas in Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island, requesting more analysis on cumulative effects of increased booster landings.
  • Marine life, particularly sea turtles and manatees, urging stronger mitigation—such as seasonal scheduling to avoid nesting periods.
  • Floodplain disturbance, questioning why alternative site footprints were not more fully evaluated.

Industry and Government
Representatives from Space Florida and Brevard County Tourism highlighted the economic benefits:

  • Workforce growth: Increased launch activity sustains skilled aerospace jobs locally.
  • Tourism draw: More frequent launches could bolster space‑coast viewing tourism.

A SpaceX liaison clarified technical details:

  • The new LZ design minimizes environmental footprint by using existing cleared areas and established utility corridors.
  • Noise modeling showed booster landing sonic booms are low‑intensity and would fall well within the thresholds for no hearing or structural damage beyond base boundaries.

Federal and Military Agencies
An official from Space Launch Delta 45 confirmed the policy shift requiring on‑site landings and noted that without a dedicated LZ at SLC‑40, SpaceX’s ability to support Department of Defense missions could be compromised after current off‑site permits expire in July 2025.

United Launch Alliance
ULA has submitted written comments, mainly concerning operational impacts and disruptions to operations at their adjacent launch pad, and also financial responsibility in the case of any damage caused by SpaceX activities.

You can read ULA’s comments in full here:

FAA-2025-0114-0012_attachment_1Download

Have Your Say: How to Submit Additional Comments

Attendees and those who could not join were reminded that all substantive comments, whether verbal tonight, submitted online via Regulations.gov under Docket FAA‑2025‑0114, or mailed to:

Ms. Eva Long
FAA Environmental Specialist, c/o ICF
1902 Reston Metro Plaza
Reston, VA 20190

Submissions must be received or post‑marked by May 15, 2025 to be incorporated into the Final EA.

Next Steps and Timeline

  • May 15, 2025: Close of public comment period.
  • Summer 2025: FAA reviews all comments, works with resource agencies on mitigation commitments, and prepares the Final EA.
  • Late 2025 (estimated): FAA issues either a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or determines that a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required.
  • Post‑FONSI: If approved, SpaceX would apply for the license modification and move into detailed design and construction of the landing zone, subject to any mitigation conditions outlined in the FONSI.

Significance for the Space Coast

The outcome of this EA process carries considerable weight for:

  • Commercial spaceflight growth on the Eastern Range, as SpaceX remains the primary launch provider at SLC‑40.
  • Local economy, with potential for sustained or expanded aerospace employment, supply‑chain activity, and tourism revenue.
  • Environmental stewardship, given Florida’s sensitive coastal ecosystems and flood‑prone terrain.

Key Elements of the Proposed Action

Page 17 of the FAA’s May 9 presentation (link above).

1. Launch Cadence Increase
SpaceX seeks to more than double its annual Falcon 9 launches at SLC‑40, from 50 to as many as 120 per year. Also increased are static fires and booster landings based at SLC-40. This uptick supports both government (DOD, NASA) and commercial missions, aligning with national goals for assured access to space.

2. New Landing Zone Construction
Currently, Falcon 9 first stages from Eastern Range missions land on downrange drone ships or at landing zones 1 and 2 (formerly SLC‑13). Space Launch Delta 45 policy now requires commercial boosters to land co‑located with their launch pad. The proposed LZ would occupy about 4 acres adjacent to SLC‑40, clearing approximately 0.25 acres within a 500‑year floodplain and involving installation of gas lines, a pedestal and minimal new disturbance.

3. Related Airspace Closures
The FAA must also authorize temporary airspace restrictions to ensure public safety during launches and landings—another aspect under NEPA review.

Overview of Environmental Analyses

The EA examines numerous resource areas:

  • Noise: Time‑averaged sound from launches and static fire tests remains below FAA significance thresholds (65 dB A‑weighted Day‑Night sound level) beyond CCSFS and KSC boundaries. Sonic booms from standard trajectories occur over water; polar trajectory booms are not increasing above previously analyzed levels.
  • Air Quality & Emissions: Construction emissions and operational propellant burn were modeled using EPA‑approved methods and found to be minor.
  • Biological Resources: Consultations under the Endangered Species Act with USFWS and NMFS identified no new significant impacts to listed species; sonic boom impacts on critical habitat remain within prior assessed levels.
  • Cultural & Historic Resources: Section 106 coordination with the Florida State Historic Preservation Office and Tribal governments confirmed no adverse effects beyond already cleared conditions.
  • Floodplains & Wetlands: The limited encroachment into the floodplain triggered an explicit Finding of No Practicable Alternative (FONPA) under Executive Orders on floodplain management.
  • Socioeconomics & Land Use: Potential benefits include local job support for increased operations; land use changes remain confined within federal property.

Overall, the DRAFT EA concluded that neither the Proposed Action nor the No‑Action Alternative would cause individually or cumulatively significant environmental impacts—with recommended mitigation measures to be finalized in coordination with resource agencies.

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Atlas V Kuiper KA-01-

Summer is nearly back on the Space Coast, with warm temperatures and a persistent threat of rain in the afternoon and evenings — typical weather here, and it will stay this way for several months. That being said, Atlas V was able to beat the weather last night and launched at the opening of its window, with liftoff at 7:01 PM ET after an apparently quiet countdown, save for some concerns about the energy potential of a nearby anvil cloud (Cumulonimbus incus) lingering near the launch pad before dissipating.

Atlas V Kuiper KA-01 lifting off from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral on April 28, 2025
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

The launch carried 27 Amazon Kuiper satellites to orbit. These were the first operational units of Amazon’s planned Internet service constellation, which is planned to feature some 3,236 units when fully built out.

For more information about Project Kuiper, click here.

Atlas V was outfitted in its 551 configuration, meaning it had five GEM 63 solid rockets strapped onto the booster for additional lift. It also had a five-meter fairing, the largest used on the venerable member of ULA’s stable. Tory Bruno, CEO of ULA, calls this setup “The Bruiser” and that’s an apt name: it’s a big rocket and has a lot of power. Good thing, because yesterday, Atlas V carried the most weight to orbit in 155 missions so far.

Atlas V Kuiper KA-01 in flight
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

The launch was nominal, as was the flight to orbit. At 7:18 Tory Bruno announced on X.com that the payload was in orbit, and later, after deployment, Project Kuiper posted that it had established communications with all 27 Kuiper satellites. With that, the mission was a full success.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-75 Mission Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-75
Organization SpaceX
Location Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket Falcon 9 Block 5
Pad Space Launch Complex 40
Status To Be Confirmed
Status Info Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty.
Window Opens Wednesday, 04/30/2025 10:17:00 PM EDT
Window Closes Thursday, 05/01/2025 2:48:00 AM EDT
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.

Please note that the launch window times are provided in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

For the most current information regarding the launch schedule and status, please refer to official updates from SpaceX.com

Atlas V’s ascent path was illustrated clearly by a plume trail from the rocket’s SRBs
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
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Atlas V at SLC-41 on April 28, 2025
Atlas V at SLC-41 on April 28, 2025
Atlas V at SLC-41 on April 28, 2025
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

United Launch Alliance is set to launch and Atlas V 551 this evening from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 7:00 PM ET and closes again at 9:00 PM the same day.

This will be ULA’s first launch this year. The company is winding down Atlas V launches, with only fifteen remaining, tonight’s launch included. ULA also recently retired Delta IV Heavy, and launched the last one a year ago today. The company is moving towards its Vulcan rocket, which it has launched twice. Vulcan recently received USSL certification for its new Vulcan rocket, which is now awaiting payloads prior to its next flight.

As is customary with Atlas V, all stages are expendable, so there will be no landing and retrieval of the booster. After its job is done for the day, it will crash into the ocean and sleep with the fishes.

For More Coverage of Amazon Kuiper Project, click here.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Delta 45 has posted their Launch Mission Execution Forecast, and they are rating the chances of a weather violation at 25% on Monday, April 28, with chances dropping drastically to only a 10% chance of weather being an issue on Tuesday, April, 29th.

Trajectory

Northeast. Depending on when Atlas V launches, it may put on quite a show. Local sunset is 7:45 PM ET, so if the launch is at the opening of the window, we will see a beautiful sunset launch. If it is delayed an hour, the sun will have set on the ground, but Civil Twilight last until 8:09 PM and that means that Atlas V’s plumes will still be in sunlight up high. It might be interesting, but forecasting a jellyfish plume is tricky.

What Is Project Kuiper?

Similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, Project Kuiper is Amazon’s initiative to provide global broadband access through a constellation of over 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Announced in 2019, the project’s goal is to deliver fast, affordable internet connectivity to unserved and underserved communities worldwide. Like Starlink, by leveraging LEO satellites, Project Kuiper aims to provide low-latency broadband services to a diverse range of customers, including individual households, schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies.

ready on the launch mount at SLC-41. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk Of Titusville
Atlas V, with Kuiper K-01, stands at the ready on the launch mount at SLC-41. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk Of Titusville

To achieve this, Amazon plans to deploy some 3,236 satellites at altitudes ranging from 590 to 630 kilometers. The company has secured agreements for up to 83 launches over a five-year period, utilizing various launch providers such as Arianespace’s Ariane 6, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, and United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V and later, Vulcan Centaur.

Launch Viewing: Online

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch times, United Launch Alliance’s website is the best source of information. Launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The southern viewing spots are the best for this launch, but none are particularly close except for Playalinda Beach. Problem is, Playalinda closes at 8PM, so unless the launch is right on time, it won’t be an option.

The best free options are available for spectators: 528 West at the Banana River Bridge, Jetty Park and Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral. Southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenu / US-1 are also good: Kennedy Point and Rotary Riverfront Park are your best bets.

Distance to SLC-41 from Kennedy Point Park
Distance to SLC-41 from Kennedy Point Park

Local recommendations also say the Cafe Paradiso and Ven pa’ Ca Café are excellent choices for before, after and even during launches. Grab a bite to eat, walk over to the Indian River and watch the launch.

Distance to SLC-41 from the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W

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Starlink 6-74's flight path, as seen from KARS Park on Merritt Island. Photo: Chris Leymarie / Florida Media Now
Starlink 6-74’s flight path, as seen from KARS Park on Merritt Island
Photo: Chris Leymarie / Florida Media Now

SpaceX launched their 49th mission of 2025 this evening from Cape Canaveral when the company sent the Starlink 6-74 mission to low Earth orbit aboard Falcon 9. Liftoff was at 9:52 PM EDT, right at the opening of the launch window.

After staging, Booster B1069 concluded its shift for the evening when it touched down on ASDS ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’, SpaceX’s automated drone ship. This was the booster’s 23rd flight, making it one of the greybeards in SpaceX’s fleet.

SpaceX provided this closeup of liftoff.

At 10:53 PM ET, SpaceX announced successful payload deployment, completing another successful mission for the company. This was their 475th mission.

Payload

28 Starlink satellites.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Another group of Starlink satellites are scheduled to launch NET Sunday evening:

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 12-23 Mission Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 12-23
Organization SpaceX
Location Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket Falcon 9 Block 5
Pad Space Launch Complex 40
Status To Be Confirmed
Status Info Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty.
Window Opens Sunday, 04/27/2025 10:04:00 PM EDT
Window Closes Monday, 04/28/2025 2:04:00 AM EDT
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.
Read more

The FAA has announced that the public meeting for the SpaceX SLC-40 Enviromental Assessment that was originally scheduled for April 16th has been rescheduled to May 8, 2025. The original meeting was postponed due to a nationwide Zoom outage on that date earlier this month. Additionally, the public comment period has also been extended to May 15th.

For a summary and links to all original documents, please click here:

FAA Posts Draft Environmental Assessment For Increasing SLC-40 to 120 Falcon Launches A Year

Official Announcement

The FAA previously issued a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing SpaceX’s proposal to increase Falcon 9 operations from 50 up to 120 per year from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The draft EA also reviews the construction of a first-stage booster landing zone at the site with up to 34 landings per year. 

Due to technical difficulties associated with the nationwide Zoom platform outage, the virtual public meeting scheduled for April 16, 2025, was cancelled. The new meeting date is scheduled for May 8, 2025. In addition, the public comment period is extended and will close on May 15, 2025.

Registration is required to join the virtual public meeting. Those who registered for the cancelled meeting must re-register.

For registration, meeting and other details, click here: https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/SpaceX_Falcon_SLC_40_EA

Talk of Titusville strongly encourages all interested parties to attend the virtual session as well as filing a written comment at the links above.

Anyone interested in attending the virtual session must register in advance. If you signed up for the cancelled event, you’ll need to register again.

For details on how to register, attend the meeting, or submit comments, visit: https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/SpaceX_Falcon_SLC_40_EA

Starlink 9-47 launching from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Starlink 9-47 launching from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
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falcon9 bandwagon 3
Timelapse of SpaceX Falcon 9 Bandwagon 3 flight. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Timelapse of SpaceX Falcon 9 Bandwagon 3 flight. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Summer thunderstorms have yet to arrive on the Space Coast this year, but there were rumbles and roars a-plenty yesterday on the Eastern Range. First, in the wee hours, SpaceX launched CRS-32 from KSC, and its booster landed at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Then, after sunset, the company completed another RTLS Falcon 9 launch, this time from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was at 8:48 PM ET.

Eight minutes and seven seconds after liftoff, Booster B1090 completed its third flight successfully at Landing Zone 2 on the site of the former Launch Complex 13.

Payloads

Among the payloads that were launched last night were some interesting spacecraft:

425Sat-3: Enhancing South Korea’s Reconnaissance Capabilities

425Sat-3, as part of the 425 Project, was among the payloads lofted by Bandwagon-3. This initiative aims to establish a constellation of five satellites—four equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and one with Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors—to bolster surveillance over North Korea. T

The SAR satellites, developed by a consortium including Korean Aerospace Industries, Hanwha Systems, and Thales Alenia Space, provide all-weather, day-and-night imaging capabilities. Once fully operational, the constellation will enable monitoring of the Korean Peninsula at two-hour intervals, enhancing South Korea’s independent intelligence-gathering capacity, a vital national interest item.

Tomorrow-S7: Advancing Hyperlocal Weather Forecasting

Tomorrow-S7, launched by Tomorrow.io, represents a significant step in commercial weather observation. As part of a planned 30-satellite constellation, Tomorrow-S7 is equipped with advanced radar and microwave sounder instruments designed to deliver precise, hyperlocal weather data. This satellite aims to improve forecasting accuracy for both commercial and governmental applications, particularly in regions lacking comprehensive weather monitoring infrastructure.

PHOENIX-1: Testing Innovative Reentry Technology

PHOENIX-1, developed by Germany’s Atmos Space Cargo, is a prototype reentry capsule launched to test new technologies for returning cargo from Low Earth Orbit. The capsule features an inflatable heat shield, which deploys during reentry to slow the spacecraft without the need for parachutes.

During its mission, PHOENIX-1 carried four payloads, including biological and technological experiments. The data collected will inform the development of future reusable cargo return systems, with the goal of providing efficient and cost-effective solutions for transporting materials from space.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Lather, rinse, repeat. It may as well be SpaceX’s corporate motto, because they launch so regularly, especially in regards to their Starlink constellation. The company plans to launch another set of satellites for Group 6 NET Thursday, April 24, 2025:

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-74 Mission Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-74
Organization SpaceX
Location Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket Falcon 9 Block 5
Pad Space Launch Complex 40
Status To Be Confirmed
Status Info Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty.
Window Opens Thursday, 04/24/2025 9:32:00 PM EDT
Window Closes Friday, 04/25/2025 2:39:00 AM EDT
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.
Read more

The FAA has announced that the public meeting set for tonight that was to discuss draft results of an Environmental Assessment concerning Space Launch Complex 40 has been canceled.

Due to the nationwide Zoom outage, the April 16, 2025, SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Environmental Assessment in Cape Canaveral, Florida virtual public meeting is cancelled. The meeting will be rescheduled.

Additional information will be provided on the project website soon:

https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/SpaceX_Falcon_SLC_40_EA

Thank you,

The FAA SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations at SLC-40 Project Team

At the time of this writing (6:15PM April 16) Zoom is operating sporadically and had a widespread national outage of about two hours today. Given that the service is likely still recovering from the interruption, it seems a prudent course to make sure everyone who would like to attend the meeting may do so.

The meeting concerned plans for the relocation of landing zones for Falcon 9 from the current location at SLC-13 to near SLC-40, as well as more than doubling the allowable launch operations at SLC-40 starting in 2026. Up to 34 first-stage booster landings at the new landing zone annually is planned, as well as additional launches and static fires at the launch pad as well.

For More Detail Of SLC-40 Changes: FAA Posts Draft Environmental Assessment For Increasing SLC-40 to 120 Falcon Launches A Year

As the FAA states, the meeting will be rescheduled for a future date.

Talk of Titusville strongly encourages all interested citizens to learn what is planned and to make their voices heard to the FAA and others if they wish to participate in the public comment process. Follow the FAA link above for the latest official information.

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