Many people have asked what pollutants are added to the atmosphere by a rocket launch. I did some research and made a table estimating the effluence of a launch.
How Much Pollution Does A Rocket Launch Create?
NASA: ‘Engineering Failures’ and Culture Issues In Starliner Program Led To CFT-1 Failures
NASA has released a sweeping investigation report into the propulsion system failures that plagued Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner during its Crewed Flight Test (CFT) last year. The report finds a cascade of hardware failures, qualification gaps, organizational breakdowns, and a culture that prioritized schedule and provider success over engineering rigor in the program.
Melbourne-Based L3Harris Sells Bulk Of Its Propulsion Business
Credit: L3 Harris
L3Harris Technologies is spinning off the majority of its space propulsion business less than two years after absorbing Aerojet Rocketdyne.
The defense contractor announced today that AE Industrial Partners will acquire a 60% stake in its Space Propulsion and Power Systems division for $845 million. L3Harris retains the remaining 40% and expects to finalize the deal in late 2026, following regulatory approval.
L3Harris is headquartered in Melbourne and currently employs between 47,000 and 50,000 people globally.
What AE Industrial Partners Is Getting
The divested unit manufactures the RL10 upper-stage engine—currently flying on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket—along with electric propulsion thrusters and spacecraft power systems. Its hardware supports missions ranging from Mars rovers to NASA’s planned lunar Gateway station. The division also pursues advanced concepts in nuclear surface power and in-space nuclear propulsion.
AEIP is expected to revive the Rocketdyne name, one of the oldest in spaceflight. It was coined in 1955 when North American Aviation created a propulsion division.
“Rocketdyne is the birthplace of American rocket propulsion,” said Kirk Konert, managing partner at AE Industrial. He described the deal as creating a hybrid structure that combines defense-prime resources with the agility of a focused investor, with plans to modernize RL10 production while honoring the engine’s heritage.
The acquisition expands AE Industrial’s growing space portfolio, which already includes Firefly Aerospace, Redwire Space, and York Space Systems. Both parties indicated they will prioritize development of next-generation propulsion systems, particularly nuclear technologies considered essential for deep-space and cislunar operations.
What L3Harris Is Keeping
L3Harris is keeping the RS-25 program entirely in-house. The legacy engine, which powers NASA’s Space Launch System for Artemis lunar missions, carries long-term government contracts that the company will continue to fulfill as prime contractor.
Company leadership framed the partial sale as a strategic pivot toward missile production and other defense priorities. CEO Christopher Kubasik said the transaction “further sharpens our portfolio around core mission priorities” while supporting faster, more responsive defense manufacturing.
2025 In Spaceflight For The Cape
2025 was an incredibly busy year in spaceflight, both here at the Cape and also globally. By Christmas, providers broke previous orbital launch records, with over 300 successful flights globally, largely driven by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 for Starlink satellite deployments.
The Cape’s numbers for 2025:
For a complete list of 2025 launches from Florida, you can click here.
Commercial Spaceflight
SpaceX: Launch Cadence at an Unmatched Scale
SpaceX further extended its dominance in 2025 with over 130 orbital launches across the year, the vast majority using its Falcon 9 rocket. The company continued flying at a pace unmatched by any other launch provider, supporting satellite deployments, ISS crew and cargo missions, and national security payloads in addition to continuing building out its wildly popular Starlink offering.
Starlink
On October 25, 2025, SpaceX launched its 10,000th Starlink satellite. Space.com quoted noted satellite tracker Dr. Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, saying that there are currently 9,357 Starlink satellites in orbit, with 9,347 in operational positions. The constellation serves over 9 million customers across 100 countries and territories. It is estimated that the company adds around 20,000 new customers daily.
Reusable boosters remain central to that success. Several Falcon 9 first stages flew 20 or more times, reinforcing the idea that rapid reuse is no longer experimental but routine. One of its boosters, B1067, has now flown 32 times and is currently at SpaceX’s facilities at the Kennedy Space Center, being refurbished for another flight. The company has publicly stated that it seeks to certify Falcon 9 boosters for up to 40 flights, and in 2025, several of the company’s boosters have fewer than ten missions remaining to meet that goal.
Starship test flights also continued launching from Texas, focusing on vehicle upgrades, heat-shield performance, and recovery techniques aimed at future missions beyond Earth orbit. The company is also continuing to build out its Boca Chica infrastructure, with a new launch pad nearing completion at the end of this year. Flights from the new facility should take place in the first part of 2026.
SpaceX also received approval to begin converting Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral for Starship operations. The site, previously used by United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV, gives SpaceX a second major East Coast launch location and points to long-term plans for higher-energy missions beyond Falcon 9.
Meanwhile, NASA, the FAA and other relevant authorities are finishing an Environmental Impact Statement for another Florida-based Starship launch pad at LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. The tower there has long been under construction, with work continuing apace at that facility in addition to the new pad a few miles south at SLC-37.
SpaceX has stated that its goal is to launch from the Cape in 2026.
SpaceX has also begun construction of a new “Gigabay” facility for Starship at its Roberts Road site at Kennedy Space Center. That facility is large — not quite the size of the venerable VAB, but large nonetheless — and should be completed in 2026.
Blue Origin: New Glenn Finally Flies
After years of development, Blue Origin reached orbit for the first time with the debut launch of its New Glenn rocket in 2025. Flying from LC-36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the successful flight validated the vehicle’s core systems and marked the company’s entry into the heavy-lift orbital launch market.
NG-1, Blue’s mission designation for the debut flight, also had a tertiary goal of landing the New Glenn first stage, but that effort was unsuccessful. The payload reached its target orbit, however, making the flight a rousing success for a company long discounted by many in the space community.
Momentum continued on New Glenn’s second launch, when Blue Origin successfully landed its reusable first-stage booster on its recovery ship ‘Jacklyn’. The recovery showed that the company’s emphasis on reusability was now operational and not theoretical, and it positioned New Glenn as a serious competitor in the heavy-lift category.
Notably, Blue’s second New Glenn flight was much smoother than the debut. This was an expected improvement, but it clearly showed that Blue had taken the lessons learned from NG-1 to heart, made operational improvements, and applied them to the NG-2 flight.
2025 also saw Blue Origin significantly advancing its Blue Origin Blue Moon lunar lander program, as it continued preparing its Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) lunar lander for its first demo mission to deliver payloads to the lunar South Pole, presumably on the New Glenn NG-3 flight in early 2026.
Plans to reuse ‘Never Tell Me the Odds’, the booster used for the NG-2 flight, on NG-3. If successful, Blue Origin will achieve landing and then reusing a booster in relatively quick succession.
Blue is continuing development of its second lunar lander, Blue Moon Mark 2 (MK2). While they have made few public statements on the status and progress of the project, it is believed that they are building a flight-capable cabin for testing and crew training for the larger MK2, one of two of NASA’s selected crewed landers. Additionally, Blue is said to be working on life support, thermal control, and docking systems for MK2. Undoubtedly, the results from the MK1 mission will greatly inform the future designs of MK2.
Finally, Blue Origin created a new internal group focusing on national security missions for the US Government, and to run it they hired ULA’s CEO, Tory Bruno.
United Launch Alliance: A Year Full Of Change
2026 was a transitional year for United Launch Alliance, and one that has many observers wondering about the company’s long-term prospects, especially now that their former leader, Tory Bruno, has left to work for the competition.
One one hand, the company has an estimated 70 launches backlogged, with the majority being LEO satellites for Amazon’s Leo telecommunications constellation. On the other, Vulcan has been slow to build any cadence, with August 2025 being the last launch and NET March 2026 for its next flight. That’s not going to trim the backlog appreciably.
The reasons go back to last year: October of 2024, Vulcan’s second flight, CERT-2 saw one of its solid rocket boosters (SRB) nozzles detach due to a manufacturing defect in the nozzle’s internal insulator, causing an off-nominal burn. However, the main engines compensated, kept the rocket on course, and the mission still achieved its orbital goals. The company and Northrop Grumman conducted an investigation to identify the issue and prevent any recurrence.
That took several months and most of ULA’s inertia but the company continued to soldier on with other missions while it waited for the results and corrections to Vulcan.
In written testimony to Congress in May 2025, Major General Stephen G. Purdy stated the Vulcan program had performed “unsatisfactorily“ over the past year. He noted that “major issues with the Vulcan have overshadowed its successful certification,” directly resulting in the grounding of four national security missions.
Due to Vulcan’s delays, the original 60/40 mission split favoring ULA under the NSSL Phase 2 contract shifted closer to 54/46 (or nearly 50/50) in 2025, as more missions were awarded or reassigned to SpaceX. Now, Blue Origin is also in the competition future NSSL launches, with Blue expected to complete NSSL Certification next year. SpaceX isn’t going anywhere either, leaving ULA walking a tightwire in the coming year.
On August 13, 2025, ULA successfully launched its first national security mission for the U.S. Space Force using a Vulcan VC4S. The mission deployed NTS-3, an experimental navigation satellite designed to enhance GPS resilience and was a complete success.
With its Delta family retired, ULA successfully conducted four major launches for Amazon’s broadband constellation (Project Kuiper, now Amazon Leo) using Atlas V rockets. All of those missions were textbook perfect, as has been customary for the rocket.
ULA is planning to increase its launch cadence in 2026, and has all but completed a second launch tower and vertical integration facility for Vulcan.
Finally, close to the Christmas holiday, ULA announced that CEO Tory Bruno had resigned “to pursue another opportunity.” For Bruno, that opportunity turned out to be leading Blue Origin’s new National Security Group, where he will ostensibly be competing with his old company for lucrative USSL launches. At Blue Origin, Bruno will have a reusable rocket system in hand, while ULA will compete with its Vulcan rocket and the vast depth of experience the company has on its resume.
ULA COO John Elbon was named as the Interim CEO in a press release issued today. John Elbon is the chief operating officer for United Launch Alliance (ULA). Before his new role, Elbon was responsible for the operations of the Atlas, Delta, and Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle programs, including design, engineering, integration, production, quality assurance, and program management.
Previously, Elbon served as vice president and program manager for Boeing’s Commercial Programs. In that position, Elbon managed Boeing’s efforts on NASA’s Commercial Crew Space Act Agreements, including the first two phases of the Commercial Crew Development, which for Boeing was the Starliner CST program.
Rocket Lab
In 2025, Rocket Lab completed 21 Electron launches, maintaining one of the highest success rates in the small-satellite market and continuing to serve commercial, civil, and national security customers. Electron missions flew from both New Zealand and Virginia, reinforcing Rocket Lab’s value as a responsive, geographically flexible company.
At the same time, much of Rocket Lab’s strategic focus shifted toward the future with continued development of Neutron, its upcoming medium-lift, partially reusable rocket. Throughout 2025, the company advanced engine testing, structural manufacturing, and launch infrastructure work at Wallops Island, Virginia.
While Neutron did not fly during the year as the company had expected, visible progress signaled Rocket Lab’s intent to move beyond small payloads and compete for larger commercial constellations and U.S. government missions later in the decade.
Beyond launch vehicles, Rocket Lab also expanded its space systems business, delivering spacecraft components, solar panels, and complete satellites to a growing customer base.
Rocket Lab’s share price rose sharply in 2025, with investors seeing significant gains in their positions.
Taken together, 2025 was not a year of dramatic firsts for Rocket Lab, but one of consolidation and preparation — proving it could sustain a high launch tempo today while methodically building the capability to play a much bigger role in the launch market of the future.
NASA
The year was marked by layoffs, with uncertainty and dread a prevalent mood for many at the agency as the new presidential budget called for drastic cuts in NASA’s science programs.
The year also saw a great deal of preparation for a return to the Moon under Artemis, a major anniversary for the International Space Station, and visible progress in science, aviation, and artificial intelligence. It was also a year of leadership change, with private-space veteran Jared Isaacman nominated and later confirmed to a senior NASA leadership role, signaling closer alignment between the agency and the commercial space sector.
The year set the tone for a decade defined by sustained activity rather than isolated milestones.
Lunar exploration remained a central focus. NASA continued methodical preparations for Artemis II, the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon since Apollo, completing the stacking of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft and running dozens of mission simulations to stress-test procedures and crew timelines. At the same time, the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program delivered tangible results.
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission One achieved a successful lunar landing in early March, while Intuitive Machines’ second Nova-C lander reached the surface days later, gathering data despite landing on its side. Together, the missions reinforced NASA’s strategy of using commercial partners to deliver science and technology to the Moon more frequently and at lower cost.
Beyond the Moon, NASA continued expanding its deep-space science portfolio. In November, the twin ESCAPADE spacecraft were launched toward Mars to investigate how the planet’s weak magnetic environment interacts with the solar wind, a key factor in understanding how Mars lost much of its atmosphere. Planning for future lunar surface science also advanced when Blue Origin was selected to deliver the VIPER rover to the Moon’s south pole later in the decade, keeping the agency’s search for water ice on track.
Space science and Earth observation saw several high-profile missions reach orbit in 2025. In March, NASA launched the SPHEREx space telescope to conduct an all-sky infrared survey while also deploying the PUNCH mission to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere and the origins of the solar wind.
Over the summer, the NISAR satellite, a joint mission with India’s ISRO, lifted off to provide unprecedented radar mapping of Earth’s ice sheets, forests, and changing landscapes. Astronomers also turned their attention outward as NASA coordinated global observations of 3I/ATLAS, only the third confirmed interstellar object ever detected passing through our solar system.
Closer to home, the Lucy spacecraft added another successful asteroid flyby to its mission, passing 52246 Donaldjohanson and returning detailed images that will help refine models of early solar system formation.
Human spaceflight milestones were just as prominent aboard the International Space Station. In November, the ISS marked 25 consecutive years of continuous human presence in orbit, a milestone that underscored its role as a testbed for long-duration missions beyond Earth.
Earlier in the year, astronaut Suni Williams set a new record for cumulative spacewalk time by a woman, reflecting both the station’s ongoing maintenance demands and the growing experience of its crews. Williams had the opportunity to mark that achievement because she and Butch Wilmore were part of the ill-fated Boeing CFT mission that launched in 2024 and led to an unexpected nine-month stay on station. The Boeing CFT astronauts joined Crew 9, which launched in September 2024 and landed in the Pacific Ocean on March 18, 2025.
Logistics capabilities also expanded with the arrival of Northrop Grumman’s first Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft, which delivered larger payloads and increased flexibility for station resupply. SpaceX provided the lift for Cygnus, as Northrop Grumman has yet to complete development of a new Antares 300-series replacement.
NASA also made visible progress in aviation and emerging technologies. The X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft completed its long-awaited first flight in October, validating a design meant to dramatically reduce sonic booms and potentially reopen the door to commercial supersonic travel over land.
In materials science, the agency’s heat-resistant superalloy GRX-810 earned recognition as NASA’s 2025 Commercial Invention of the Year, highlighting work aimed at improving engines and structures for extreme environments.
Taken together, 2025 was less about a single headline mission and more about steady progress across many fronts. NASA strengthened its lunar pipeline, celebrated a quarter-century of continuous human spaceflight, launched major new science missions, and laid the groundwork for how future exploration will be managed and analyzed. They also got a new administrator after a tumultuous nomination process. Jared Isaacman will bring many new ideas and changes to the agency, changes that will hopefully rejuvenate and reinvigorate the US space program.
Others
Sierra Space
In 2025, Sierra Space moved its Dream Chaser program through a series of important ground milestones while also reworking its near-term flight plans. The spaceplane, named Tenacity, completed extensive pre-flight testing, including electromagnetic compatibility checks and runway tow trials, clearing several technical hurdles ahead of flight. That flight, planned for 2024, will now take place in 2026. Maybe.
Photo: Sierra Space
The program’s first mission was significantly reshaped. What was initially planned as a cargo run to the International Space Station was revised into a standalone orbital demonstration, now targeted for late 2026. NASA amended its contract with Sierra Space, removing guaranteed ISS delivery missions as the company redirected more attention toward defense and national security work.
As a result, Tenacity’s debut will focus on proving core flight and reentry capabilities rather than docking operations. The change reflects both development challenges and the additional certification steps required for ISS missions. While near-term station flights are no longer assured, Dream Chaser could still play a role in future logistics, including potential cargo deliveries to commercial space stations such as Orbital Reef, once the vehicle completes its initial orbital testing.
Relativity
In 2025, Relativity Space entered a new phase after a major leadership shakeup. In March, Eric Schmidt stepped in as chief executive following a substantial investment in the company. Under his leadership, Relativity moved away from its earlier goal of fully 3D-printed rockets, adopting a more pragmatic hybrid manufacturing strategy while accelerating development of its larger, reusable Terran R launch vehicle.
Schmidt is a former Google
Stoke Space
Stoke Space, the Kent, Washington, company founded by former Blue Origin and SpaceX employees, had a good 2025, making major progress toward the first launch of its Nova rocket.
Rockets need launch pads, and Stoke has rebuilt SLC-14 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to modern standards for Nova. This is no small accomplishment, and on top of that, Stoke was respectful of the history of 14: this is where John Glenn launched in Mercury-Atlas 6, becoming the first American to orbit the Earth.
As for Nova itself, work is focused on final hardware qualification as the company simultaneously activates SLC-14. Stoke had previously planned for a 2025 debut of Nova, but mid-year, the company shifted to the right on the launch calendar in order to complete SLC-14 and to iron out any remaining issues with Nova.
The 40.2-meter (132-foot) tall rocket is expected to fly in the early part of next year. Stoke is also planning to slowly introduce reusability, so expect the first launch to be expendable.
Boeing
In 2025 Boeing welcomed a new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, previously the president and CEO of Rockwell Collins. Ortberg promised major changes throughout the company, including its spaceflight division.
In November 2025, NASA reduced Boeing’s Commercial Crew contract from six planned missions to the International Space Station (ISS) down to four. This followed technical issues during the 2024 crewed flight test that necessitated the astronauts’ return on a SpaceX vehicle in early 2025. The next mission for Starliner will be uncrewed and carrying cargo, but no date for that mission has been announced.
The news was not all bad for Boeing: their autonomous X-37B spaceplane continued its eighth mission, conducting long-duration orbital experiments as well as novel orbital maneuvers that can quickly place the spacecraft in a new orbit very quickly. In the quickly militarizing orbital environment, this is a tactical advantage yet to be demonstrated by any other nation.
Boeing also continued working on the SLS core stage. It’s Artemis II hardware is in the VAB awaiting rollout and at the time of this writing, the core stage for Artemis III is in an advanced state of manufacturing. After that, it is difficult to tell if the SLS rocket will be canceled by NASA and the Trump administration or if Boeing and others will continue manufacturing the rocket.
Taken overall, the year was an incredibly exciting one, but also one that sets the stage for the future: in 2026 humans will return to cislunar space and further development for landing on the lunar surface will continue apace. Vast Space is planning to launch Vast-1, the first privately owned and operated space station in LEO. We’ll also see SpaceX passing 10,000 Starlink satellites on orbit at some point in 2026, along with Amazon’s nascent Leo constellation starting to take form. There will be new rockets making their debut, and in between, lot of launches, especially Falcon 9 launches.
Stay tuned.
2025 Space Coast Launches
Click “Read More” to open the table below.
ULA Launches Atlas V On Amazon Leo AL-04 Mission
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville.
One down, ten to go: United Launch Alliance launched an Atlas V 551 this morning from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral in partly cloudy cool winter skies. Launch was at the top of the window, 3:28 AM ET.
Aboard the venerable rocket were 27 Amazon Leo satellites, which will now join the other 152 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) as Amazon begins building its orbital-based Internet service offering. The company plans for over 3,200 in its full constellation, aiming for initial service by early 2026.
“One of our primary missions at ULA is to be a catalyst in connecting the world,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Atlas and Vulcan programs. “Partnering with Amazon contributes to their mission of bridging the global digital gap. We thank the Amazon Leo team for their continued collaboration.”
Photo: Charles Boyer
Trajectory was northeastward, at roughly 44-45º, aiming for a final orbit inclination of around 51.9º at roughly 630 km (391 miles.)
Tonight’s launch leaves only ten Atlas V’s remaining: six for Starliner, four more for Amazon Leo. The rocket has been in service for over 23 years, since its inaugural launch on August 21, 2002. Originally designed and developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force’s EELV program, with manufacturing/operations later consolidated under ULA. It has launched over 100 missions to date, but will be replaced by the new ULA-designed Vulcan rocket.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
Next Launch: Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-99
Go for Launch Kennedy Space Center • LC-39A
| Mission | Starlink Group 6-99 (29 satellites) |
| Organization | SpaceX |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 |
| Launch Site | Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA |
| Pad | Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) |
| Window Opens | Wednesday, 12/17/2025 • 7:19:00 AM (ET) |
| Window Closes | Wednesday, 12/17/2025 • 11:19:00 AM (ET) |
| Destination | Low Earth Orbit |
| Status Info | Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Mission Description | A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation — SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system. |
| Countdown (to window open) | — |
As of: — (your local time)
Launch times are subject to change due to weather, range operations, and mission requirements.
Photo: United Launch Alliance
United Alliance Alliance Set To Launch Amazon Leo LA-04 Tuesday Morning
Photo: Charles Boyer
ULA is planning to launch another batch of 29 satellites for Amazon’s nascent Leo constellation early Tuesday morning aboard one of its remaining Atlas V rockets. Liftoff is currently scheduled for sometime between 3:28 and 3:57 AM EST.
At A Glance
Launch Preview — At a Glance
| Mission | Atlas V 551 | Amazon Leo (Project Kuiper) |
|---|---|
| Status |
Go for Launch Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Rocket | Atlas V 551 |
| Organization | United Launch Alliance |
| Location | Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA |
| Pad | Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) |
| Window |
Opens: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 — 3:28 AM ET Closes: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 — 3:57 AM ET (29-minute window)
|
| Countdown |
Loading countdown…
Target: 3:28 AM ET (Window Open)
|
| Destination | Low Earth Orbit |
| Official Stream | ULA Mission Coverage / Webcast |
| Mission Notes | Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) is a planned broadband mega-constellation in Low Earth Orbit, managed by Kuiper Systems LLC (a subsidiary of Amazon). Planned: 3,276 satellites in 98 orbital planes across three orbital layers at ~590 km, 610 km, and 630 km altitude. |
Tip: Times are shown in Eastern Time (America/New_York). Launch schedules can change quickly due to weather and range operations.
If your platform strips scripts, the countdown may not display.
Photo: Charles Boyer
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 has released their L-2 forecast, and at this time, it’s not very positive: an 80% chance of NO-GO weather.
Trajectory
Northeastward. Estimated Launch Azimuth: ~44-45°, targeting a 51.9 degree inclination orbit.
Facing eastwards, the launch will be right-to-left.
Launch Viewing: In Person
If you are planning to be up to watch this launch, here’s a list of good places to go see it.
Best Public Viewing Spots for ULA Launches from SLC-41 (Cape Canaveral) — Pre-Dawn Hours
| Area | Spot | Distance to SLC-41 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Canaveral | SR-528 Bennett Causeway pull-offs | ~10–11 mi | Open causeway views; liftoff generally unobstructed. 24/7 public road access. Arrive early; bring chairs. |
| Port Canaveral | SR-401 / Port waterfront | ~10–12 mi | ⚠️ Views toward pads, but liftoff can be obstructed by port structures or cruise ships. 24/7 road access. |
| Port Canaveral | Jetty Park (pier & beach) | ~11–12 mi | 💵 ⚠️ Park fee; 24-hr access for campers. Day visitors check gate hours. Liftoff may be blocked by cruise ships. Jetty Park info. |
| Titusville / US-1 | Max Brewer Bridge & Parrish Park | ~11–13 mi | Elevated bridge vantage; liftoff generally unobstructed. 24/7 public access. Fills quickly even pre-dawn. |
| Titusville / US-1 | Space View Park | ~12–14 mi | Riverfront views; liftoff generally unobstructed. Typically accessible for launches; verify with city. |
| Titusville / US-1 | Rotary Riverfront Park | ~12–14 mi | Open river views; liftoff generally unobstructed. Moderate parking; typically accessible for launches. |
| Titusville / US-1 | Kennedy Point Park | ~12–14 mi | Long riverfront; liftoff generally unobstructed; good tripod space. Typically accessible for launches. |
| Cape Canaveral (city) | Cherie Down Park | ~12–13 mi | ⚠️ Beach access 24/7; parking lot may close at night. Dune/vegetation can block first seconds—go to shoreline. |
| Cocoa Beach | Cocoa Beach Pier area | ~15–17 mi | 💵 Park officially closed pre-dawn; beach remains accessible. Pier facilities closed. Street parking; horizon view unobstructed. |
| Cocoa Beach | Alan Shepard Park | ~16–18 mi | 💵 Park officially closed pre-dawn; beach remains accessible. Liftoff generally unobstructed from shoreline. |
| Cocoa Beach | Lori Wilson Park | ~17–18 mi | Park officially closed pre-dawn; beach remains accessible. Large beachfront with unobstructed views. |
⚠️ Potential obstruction
💵 Fee or paid parking
Note: Distances are approximate straight-line measures from SLC-41. This list is filtered for locations accessible during pre-dawn hours (~3:30 AM). Florida beaches are generally accessible 24/7, but parking lot gates may close at night—arrive early or use street parking. Access, fees, and closures change by mission—verify on launch day.
Launch Viewing: Streaming
Live Streaming Options for ULA Atlas V LA-04 Launch
| Source | Coverage Starts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ULA Official | L-20 minutes | Official ULA webcast with mission commentary and clean pad views. |
| Spaceflight Now | ~L-60 to L-30 min | Independent coverage with expert commentary. Often includes pre-launch discussion and post-launch analysis. |
| NASASpaceflight | ~L-60 to L-30 min | In-depth technical commentary. Multiple camera angles when available. Active live chat community. |
Note: Coverage start times are approximate and may vary. Check each channel for the official stream link closer to launch. All times are estimates based on typical coverage patterns.
Photo: Charles Boyer
ULA Completes Day-Night Launch Doubleheader With ViaSat 3 Flight
On an Atlas V 551 rocket, United Launch Alliance successfully launched the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 (F2) mission for Viasat, Inc. Liftoff was at 10:04 p.m. ET from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission was a success.
This launch concluded a rare day at The Cape: two different rockets from two different manufacturers launching on the same day, with none of them being a Falcon 9. SpaceX is well known for launching twice in one day from the Eastern Range, but this time was a bit different: Blue Origin was launching New Glenn for only the second time, and later, ULA was launching Atlas V on its last mission past low-earth orbit. There are only 11 launches left for Atlas V: six Starliner flights (if they happen) and five Project Kuiper (now Amazon LEO) missions.
In a post-flight press release, Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Program said, “At ULA, we pride ourselves in delivering our customer’s spacecraft precisely to orbit and serving as the catalyst for our customers to enable global connectivity. We partner in the shared goals of connecting the world and this successful launch aligns with this core mission. Thank you Viasat for your trust in our shared visions and successful partnership.”
For this mission, the Atlas V 551 configuration placed the ViaSat-3 F2 ultra-high-capacity broadband satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). Once operational, the spacecraft is expected to substantially boost both the capacity and adaptability of Viasat’s global, multi-orbit network, which serves consumer, commercial and government users. Engineered to add 1 Tbps of throughput to that network, ViaSat-3 F2 will help meet rising demand for secure, dependable, high-bandwidth connectivity services across the Americas.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
SpaceX Falcon 9 — Starlink Launch (Cape Canaveral SFS)
| Organization | SpaceX |
| Location | Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 |
| Pad | Space Launch Complex 40 |
| Status | Go for Launch |
| Status Info | Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Window Opens | Friday, 11/14/2025 10:01:00 PM |
| Window Closes | Saturday, 11/15/2025 2:01:00 AM |
| Streaming |
Official SpaceX mission webcast Spaceflight Now YouTube live streams |
| Destination | Low Earth Orbit |
| Mission Description | A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system. |
Doubleheader Of Launches Set For Thursday, Solar Weather Permitting
A rare launch doubleheader — one that does not involve SpaceX — is planned for today from Cape Canaveral. First, in the afternoon, Blue Origin will make another attempt to get New Glenn off of the pad at LC-36A, and later in the evening, ULA will make a second attempt to launch Atlas V and the ViaSat-3 mission.
Both missions were delayed from their original launch attempts by scrubs: Blue Origin because of weather, then solar storms, ULA by a faulty valve that the company replaced on the rocket.
At A Glance
New Glenn
| Organization | Blue Origin |
| Location | Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA |
| Rocket | New Glenn |
| Pad | Launch Complex 36A |
| Status | Go for Launch |
| Status Info | Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Window Opens | Thursday, 11 / 13 / 2025 2:57 PM |
| Window Closes | Thursday, 11 / 13 / 2025 4:25 PM |
| Destination | Mars Orbit |
| Mission Description | Second flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn carrying the EscaPADE dual-spacecraft mission (UC Berkeley) to study ion and sputtered escape from Mars, energy/momentum transport from the solar wind through Mars’ hybrid magnetosphere, and how energy and matter flow into and out of the collisional atmosphere. |
| Watch Live | Blue Origin Official Stream (YouTube) | Mission Page |
As of 8:59 AM Thursday November 13, 2025. Launch assignments and times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult BlueOrigin.com for updates.
Atlas-V
| Organization | United Launch Alliance |
| Location | Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA |
| Rocket | Atlas V 551 |
| Pad | Space Launch Complex 41 |
| Status | Go for Launch |
| Status Info | Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Window Opens | Thursday, 11 / 13 / 2025 10:04 PM |
| Window Closes | Thursday, 11 / 13 / 2025 10:48 PM |
| Destination | Geostationary Transfer Orbit |
| Mission Description | The ViaSat-3 series comprises three Ka-band high-capacity satellites; each is designed for >1 Tbps of network capacity with flexible, regionally targetable coverage. |
| Watch Live | ULA Official Stream (YouTube) | Spaceflight Now Coverage (YouTube) |
Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time.
Weather
Oddly, at the time of this writing, the 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force’s Launch Delta 45 has removed their Launch Mission Execution Forecast for Blue Origin’s New Glenn. They do have yesterday’s LMEF for Atlas V:
Solar activity is still expected to be high, and Spaceweather.com is saying that, “Currently, storm levels are bouncing between category G1 (Minor) and G3 (Strong) as solar wind blows around Earth faster than 900 km/s. NOAA forecasters say there is also a lingering chance of severe G4-class storms on Nov. 13th.”
While that is an improvement from yesterday, it is still possible that mission managers for either launch may look at the current conditions and demur due to the impacts of Sunspot 2247. One thing is for sure: Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance and the 45th Weather Squadron have better space weather resources — experts, data, etc. — than the general public. If mission managers are confident, it’s with good reason.
As always, take a “we’ll see what happens” attitude, a comfortable chair and something cool to drink while you wait.
Launch Viewing: In Person
LC-36A is clearly visible all the way down Cocoa beach, the closest being the pier at Jetty Park. Also close to SLC-36 is The Banana River Bridge. This will be a relatively big launch, and if you plan to go to one of the more popular spots for Blue Origin’s launch attempt, go early.
| Spot | Approx. Distance | Sightline | Amenities | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetty Park Beach & Pier (Cape Canaveral) | ≈8–10 mi | Clear ocean horizon; pad slightly south of due-east line | Parking (fee), restrooms, concessions | Fills early on major launches; allow extra time for port traffic. |
| SR-401 Observation Turnouts (Port Canaveral North Side) | ≈7–9 mi | Low coastal view across Canaveral harbor | Limited shoulder parking; no facilities | Arrive early; obey posted signs; bring water and sun protection. |
| Cherie Down Park (Cape Canaveral) | ≈9–11 mi | Beachline view; ascent over the ocean | Parking, restrooms, beach access | Neighborhood streets can clog; respect residential parking rules. |
| Cocoa Beach Pier | ≈11–13 mi | Open Atlantic horizon with pier foreground | Food, restrooms, paid parking | Good for photo framing; crowds vary by season and event size. |
| Alan Shepard Park (Cocoa Beach) | ≈12–14 mi | Broad shoreline horizon | Parking (often paid), restrooms, beach access | Arrive early on weekends; check for lot closures during events. |
| Lori Wilson Park (Cocoa Beach) | ≈13–15 mi | Unobstructed shoreline view | Parking, restrooms, boardwalks | Shade helps during long holds; wildlife area nearby. |
| SR-528/520 Causeway Pull-offs (Banana River) | ≈13–17 mi | Low river-level sightline; wide eastern sky | No facilities | Use only legal shoulder areas; stay well off traffic lanes. |
| The Space Bar — Courtyard Titusville | ≈12–16 mi | Farther angle but elevated rooftop view | Food & beverage, restrooms | Reservations may be required for big launches. |
More or less the same spots will work later in the evening for Atlas V, but given that SLC-41 is further north than LC-36A, the southern Titusville Parks or roadside off of 528W at the Banana River bridge might be a wee bit better than the beaches.
Free Advice
Watch the YouTube streams for the latest/greatest information. Things change pretty fast as the countdown heads towards zero, and Will Robinson-Smith on Spaceflight Now or the announcers on Blue Origin’s live stream will keep you up to date.
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.
The Next Spaceflight mission page is an excellent resource to follow the countdowns.
Launch Viewing: Online
| Streaming Source | Availability |
|---|---|
| Blue Origin YouTube (Official) | Typically ~30 minutes before liftoff |
| Blue Origin — Mission/Live Page | Updates + embedded stream when live |
| NASA Live (if simulcast) | TBD; often ~30–60 minutes prior |
| Spaceflight Now | About one hour prior to liftoff |
| NASASpaceflight | Live coverage one hour prior to launch |
| NextSpaceflight — Launch Page | Comprehensive launch info |
Solar Storm Scrubs Second New Glenn Launch Attempt
It’s not often that this happens, but solar activity has forced Blue Origin to scrub today’s launch attempt of New Glenn from Cape Canaveral.
Solar activity has been quite high in the past few days as sunspot 4274 has created coronal mass ejection events this week. Last night, aurorae were visible as far south as Central Florida, and that electrical activity is not good for rockets and payloads. According to NOAA, that activity is set to continue today:
The culprit is sunspot 4274 (circled in the solar disk photo above), which is nearing the solar horizon and will rotate with the sun to its side facing away from Earth. Today, however, is going be a busy one insofar as solar activity, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. That necessitated a launch delay.
When Will Blue Origin Try Again?
As their post on X states, Blue Origin is looking at dates and working with officials at the Eastern Range to determine a new launch date for New Glenn. Space Weather is of course a current concern, but their launch date may be affected by United Launch Alliance’s next attempt to launch Atlas V and the ViaSat-3 mission, currently scheduled for tomorrow night.
That’s where it gets sticky: ULA might also be forced to cancel their launch attempt for the same reason Blue Origin scrubbed today: solar storms affecting Earth’s atmosphere. Forecasters at Spaceweather.com posted today that, “Last night’s severe (G4) geomagnetic storm is subsiding, but the action is not over. Earth’s magnetic field is still reverberating from a double-strike of CMEs on Nov. 11th. A third CME is expected to hit Earth on Nov. 12th, elevating storm levels back to G3/G4.” How long that lasts will determine ULA’s plan and whether they have to push their launch.
Should that happen, there will be some congestion on the Range, and at that point, priorities will need to be assigned. Stay tuned,
Why Does Solar Weather Matter To Rockets?
Solar activity can disrupt the communications and navigation systems that ascending rockets rely on. Radio bursts from solar flares add noise to tracking radars and telemetry links, while geomagnetic storms disturb the ionosphere, degrading GPS accuracy used by guidance and range safety. These events also heat the upper atmosphere, increasing drag and altering ascent conditions, complicating performance predictions.
Launch operators monitor space-weather alerts and compare conditions to launch commit criteria; when space weather indices are elevated, they may delay to keep comms, navigation, and environmental margins within acceptable limits. In other words, it’s electrical activity that can scramble vital communications and control.
Blue Origin and NASA did just that, wisely not taking these risks lightly and choosing to wait for the storms to fade and the atmosphere to calm before launching New Glenn.
As the old saying goes: “It’s better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than in the air wishing you were on the ground.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.