The Space Force doesn’t do press viewing for Starlink launches, a good thing since there are so many of them. That said, there are some really interesting views from public viewing spots, like this one on 528W in Cape Canaveral. Click here to see my favorite public viewing spots.
SpaceX added to its roster of Starlink satellites when it launched the Starlink Group 6-90 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. Liftoff was at 3:26 PM ET and into clear skies with temperatures hovering around 70ºF (21ºC)
SpaceX launched a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office on December 9, 2025, aboard Falcon 9. Liftoff was at 02:16:25pm ET into leaden skies, with the rocket quickly behind the clouds, probably much to the delight of NRO. The launch direction was northeast.
At T+08:17s was NROL-77 was in its initial orbit and roughly eleven seconds later, Booster 1096 returned to land safely at LZ-2 inside Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at T+08:28s.
SpaceX Falcon 9, carrying the NROL-77 mission for NRO, lifts off on December 9, 2025. Photo: Charles Boyer
SpaceX launched a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office today aboard Falcon 9.
Liftoff was at 02:16:25pm ET into leaden skies, with the rocket quickly behind the clouds, probably much to the delight of NRO. The launch direction was northeast.
At T+08:17s was NROL-77 was in its initial orbit and roughly eleven seconds later, Booster 1096 returned to land safely at LZ-2 inside Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at T+08:28s.
That, in a nutshell, is pretty much all that’s publicly known about the mission.
At 6:00 PM NRO announced the mission was a success.
MISSION SUCCESS: NROL-77 launched today at 2:16 p.m. ET on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
This successful mission highlights the close working partnership between NRO and @USSF_SSC.
NROL created a flying squirrel logo for their secret-squirrel launch today.
SpaceX will be launching a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office today from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral. Liftoff is at 2:16:25 PM, in an instantaneous window, and about 8.5 minutes later, the booster used for the mission will land at LZ-2 inside Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Expect a sonic boom to rattle the windows a short time afterwards as the booster heralds its return.
At A Glance
Launch Preview — At a Glance
As of: December 9, 2025 (America/New_York)
Mission
Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-77
Status
Go for Launch Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Rocket
Falcon 9 (Block 5)
Operator
SpaceX
Launch Site
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40)
Window
Opens: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 — 2:16:25 PM ET
Closes: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 — 2:16:25 PM ET
(Instantaneous window)
Destination
Unknown (classified)
Mission Notes
Classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
Tip: Times are shown in Eastern Time (America/New_York). Launch schedules can change quickly due to weather and range operations.
Weather
Weather is just about perfect, according the 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45. Their Launch Mission Execution Forecast gives a greater than 95% chance of acceptable weather at launch time:
Credit: US Space Force. Retrieved 09:30am December 9, 2025
Trajectory
NROL-76 is expected to have a launch azimuth of ~43–45°, or northeast.
Online Viewing
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: NROL-77 This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about fifteen minutes before liftoff.
Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link
For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink 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.
If you are watching in person on the Space Coast, 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.
Starlink 6-92 launching from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center today. Credit: SpaceX
“Well…it’s Monday…again, and SpaceX launched 29 Starlink satellites to Low-Earth Orbit on another routine Falcon 9 flight this afternoon.” You can almost hear Bill Murray saying that in the role of newsman Phil Connors in the movie “Groundhog Day.” SpaceX launches that often on the Space Coast, and today, the company launched another Starlink mission, and Booster B0167 successfully completed its 32nd flight.
Bill Murray in “Groundhog Day”
Liftoff occurred at 5:26 p.m. EST (2226 UTC) from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, and into mostly leaden, overcast skies that were just starting to clear after a cold front passed through the Space Coast region in the past couple of days.
The flight was nominal, and at T+8:23s Booster B1067 touched down aboard ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’, stationed in the Atlantic east of The Bahamas. Fifteen seconds later, the second stage of Falcon 9 reached SECO, or Second Stage Engine Cut-Off, and was in its initial orbit.
The Clubhouse Leader With 32 Flights
Booster B1067.32 remains the all-time leader for SpaceX boosters, having earned its soot on the CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, SES O3B mPOWER-A, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Merah Putih 2, Galileo L13, Koreasat-6A, and now 21 Starlink missions.
That’s quite a resumé, and on SpaceX must certainly be proud of. Now aboard ‘Just Read The Instructions’, it will return to Port Canaveral, where it will be offloaded, transported to HangarX at Kennedy Space Center and ostensibly prepared for its next flight.
Top 5 Most Reflown Falcon 9 Boosters | Talk of Titusville
🚀
Fleet Leaders by Flight Count
Rank
Booster
Flights
Notable Achievements
1
B1067
32flights
Current record holder • Guinness World Record • First to reach 30 flights
2
B1071
30flights
Most spacecraft to orbit: 1,001 • Vandenberg workhorse • 5 NRO missions
3
B1063
29flights
Oldest surviving booster in fleet • First flight Nov 2020 • Launched NASA DART
4
B1069
28flights
Most mass to orbit: 401,140 kg • Carried FIFA World Cup balls to space
5
B1077
25flights
Flew Crew-5, GPS III SV06, CRS-28 • Active Cape Canaveral booster
So, in short, another Monday and another record set here on the Eastern Range. Those things are becoming routine.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
Next Launch: Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-77
Go for Launch• Cape Canaveral SFS • SLC-40
Field
Details
Mission
NROL-77 (Classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office)
Organization
SpaceX
Rocket
Falcon 9
Launch Site
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Pad
Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40)
Window Opens
Tuesday, 12/09/2025 2:16:25 PM (ET)
Window Closes
Tuesday, 12/09/2025 2:16:25 PM (ET)
Destination
Unknown (not publicly disclosed)
Status Info
Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Mission Description
Classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.
Countdown
—
As of:— (your local time)
Note: NRO missions often release limited details due to classification; times may shift with range/weather/operations.
SpaceX just cleared a major hurdle for bringing Starship to Cape Canaveral.
The Department of the Air Force has officially signed off on a plan that lets SpaceX redevelop Space Launch Complex 37 for Starship and Super Heavy operations.
Their Record of Decision lays out how the company can rebuild the pad, transport hardware, and eventually fly and land the massive booster and ship right here on the Space Coast.
The approval covers everything from construction work to vehicle processing to road upgrades. Phillips Parkway and Old A1A inside Cape Canaveral Space Force Station will be widened so Starship hardware can move between the Cape and Kennedy Space Center.
The Air Force says there is no practical alternative to building at SLC-37, but it requires a long list of safeguards. Environmental controls were the most prominent conditions, including dust control, flood and hurricane resilience, noise-reduction systems, wildlife protections, historic-site monitoring, stormwater controls, and plans for wetlands and habitat restoration.
SpaceX must also cover the costs of any permanent habitat loss and follow strict rules for species such as the southeastern beach mouse, the Florida scrub-jay, and the gopher tortoise.
Practical Effects
Residents can expect traffic controls during construction and high-profile launches, continued public notifications for loud events and sonic booms, and a dedicated process for handling damage claims. The document also outlines how SpaceX and the Space Force will coordinate with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Canaveral National Seashore, and nearby agencies to minimize disruptions.
With the decision signed on November 20, 2025, the path is now open for SpaceX to add Starship to Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy on the Eastern Range, marking another major expansion of launch activity on the Space Coast. The final lease agreement, pad construction and last but not least, Starship completing its development phase still remain, of course, so it will be a while before Starship launches here…but it won’t be a very long while.
The Department of the Air Force has issued a positive Final Environmental Impact Statement for SpaceX Starship at LC-37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This SpaceX rendering shows what the area could look like when complete. Credit: SpaceX
The proposal would turn the old Delta IV pad into a fully rebuilt launch site capable of hosting up to 76 Starship flights a year. Each mission would include a booster landing just minutes after liftoff and a Starship landing hours—or in some cases years—after launch. In short, the skies above the Space Coast are going to be very busy.
The review concludes that the project would bring no major environmental obstacles across most categories.
Still, two issues stand out: air quality and noise.
The EIS points to significant community annoyance from Starship’s noise and sonic booms, especially during nighttime launches. While the report says structural damage is unlikely, the sound levels will be noticeable across the Space Coast on launch days. SpaceX plans to use heavy sound-suppression systems and coordinate public notifications in advance. Sonic booms from returning boosters and Starship itself will be endemic, day or night.
Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss
80-90
City Traffic
85
Many household appliances
80
Chamber music, in a small auditorium
75-85
Vacuum cleaner
75
Normal conversation
60-70
Business Office
60-65
Household refrigerator
55
Suburban area at night
40
Whisper
25
Quiet natural area with no wind
20
Threshold of hearing
0
Sustained Exposure Hearing Loss: the common benchmark for this threshold is an 8-hour time-weighted average exposure to 85 dBA on a repeated basis. The time exposure for a Starship launch will be measured in minutes.
During operations, the rocket’s emissions are expected to exceed federal insignificance thresholds for nitrogen oxides. The Air Force and SpaceX plan to use an adaptive management strategy, reviewing new data as operations ramp up.
Minimal Impacts Across Other Categories
The review found:
Environmental Impact Summary
Starship/Superheavy Environmental Impact Summary
Category
Assessment
Traffic
Increases during construction and launch days are manageable.
Local Wildlife
Southeastern beach mouse and Florida scrub-jay will be protected through relocation and habitat restoration plans.
Water Resources
Wetlands will see construction impacts, but all fall under federal permitting and mitigation requirements.
Historic Sites
Expected to remain unaffected, with ongoing monitoring for potential noise-related impacts.
Marine Areas
No long-term closures; only short safety zones during launches.
Overall, the report concludes that the project can proceed without causing significant long-term environmental harm, provided mitigation measures remain in place.
What Comes Next
The Air Force must still issue its Record of Decision, and the FAA will release its own determination before any Starship launches or landings take place at the site. Airspace-closure details are still being finalized, with additional FAA analysis expected. At the same time, this was one of the major hurdles the SpaceX project had to clear on its way to becoming a reality.
When approved, the redevelopment of SLC-37 would position Cape Canaveral as a major operational hub for Starship activity, supporting national security missions, commercial flights, and NASA needs. SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility will work in tandem with the SpaceX Eastern Range facility to support the giant spacecraft.
As a company, SpaceX moves quickly. Once approved, it is unlikely the company will delay construction at LC-37, and once started, the work will proceed rapidly until the facility is ready for its initial use. In Boca Chica, SpaceX has constructed Starship launch and landing facilities in months, as opposed to the multi-year efforts NASA has had with SLS. It is reasonable to expect much the same here in Florida.
Oddly, SLC-37 may not be the first Starship pad to enter service on the Space Coast. Given its construction lead, that distinction is likely to go to LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. The FAA is still finalizing its Environmental Impact Study for that facility, but SpaceX has been steadily constructing its Starship launch pad on the KSC site.
A Russian Soyuz rocket lifted a three person crew into orbit early Thursday, carrying one NASA astronaut and two Roscosmos cosmonauts to the International Space Station. Their arrival boosts the station’s population to ten as Expedition 73 prepares for its upcoming crew rotation and a busy stretch of science work.
Blue Origin New Glenn 9X4 in flight. Credit: Blue Origin
It has been a big week for Blue Origin, first with the second launch of New Glenn, the successful landing of the first stage. As they were moving the first stage of last week’s New Glenn flight, the company casually made three major announcements today in one press release: a new, supersized New Glenn for megapayloads, ramping up the power output of its BE-4 and BE-3U engine used on the second stage of the current New Glenn, as well as the 9X4. It might be a while for the megarocket to be on the launch pad, but the engine advancements start arriving on the next New Glenn flight, NG-3.
Evolving Quickly
The first major upgrade is a boost in engine performance across both stages. The seven BE 4 engines on the booster will now deliver about 4.5 million pounds of thrust, up from 3.9 million. On the stand, BE 4 has already hit 625,000 pounds of thrust with its current propellant setup and is on track to reach 640,000 later this year. Subcooling the propellant raises the engine’s output well above its previous 550,000 pound level.
The upper stage is getting a similar lift. Its pair of BE 3U engines will move from a planned 320,000 pounds of thrust to roughly 400,000 over the next few flights. BE 3U has already shown 211,658 pounds on the test stand.
These performance gains directly support customers already booked to fly on New Glenn to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and farther than that. Other vehicle updates include a reusable fairing for a higher flight tempo, a redesigned tank that lowers manufacturing cost, and a new thermal protection system that can be reused and cuts turnaround time.
Blue Origin said in their press release today that the improvements and upgrades will be phased into upcoming New Glenn missions beginning with NG-3.
Super-Heavy: The New Glenn 9X4
On the right, the New Glenn 9×4 variant. It will be taller than a Saturn V and the SLS Block 1 rockets. Credit: Blue Origin
The next significant step in the evolution of the New Glenn program is a new super-heavy rocket. Called New Glenn 9×4, a nod to the engine layout on each stage, it targets missions that need more lift and higher performance. It can place more than 70 metric tons into low Earth orbit, over 14 metric tons directly into geosynchronous orbit, and more than 20 metric tons on a translunar trajectory. The 9×4 will also carry a wider 8.7 meter fairing.
Both the 9×4 and the current 7×2 version will operate in parallel, giving customers more flexibility across mission types, from mega-constellations to lunar and deep space work to national security needs such as Golden Dome or larger NSSL payloads.
Presumably, the new variant will also be built at Blue Origin’s factory in Exploration Park across from the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center.
No mission or date for the upgraded rocket was given.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn first stage “Never Tell Me The Odds” made a happy return to Port Canaveral this morning, marking the first time that Blue Origin returned with a New Glenn booster after a successful flight and landing.
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