cape canaveral

Falcon 9 and Starlink 10-21 rise as a fine sea mist hugs the wind-beaten surface of the Banana River today.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX launched another tranche of Starlink Mini V2 satellites to orbit today from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral. Launch was at 11:00 AM ET, and sixty-six minutes later at 12:06 PM ET, SpaceX declared the mission was a success when it announced a successful deployment of all 28 satellites included in the payload.

Booster B1077 completed its 24th flight when it landed aboard ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas,’ located about 625 km (388 miles) downrange from SLC-40 in the Atlantic Ocean. Both the booster and the barge will now return to Port Canaveral, where the booster will be offloaded and transported to Hangar X at the Kennedy Space Center for refurbishment and preparation for its next flight.

SpaceX Booster Reuse List
Booster Flights Last Launch Last Mission
B1067 31 flights October 19, 2025 Starlink Group 10-18
B1063 28 flights September 29, 2025 Starlink Group 11-20
B1069 27 flights September 5, 2025 Starlink Group 10-57
B1077 24 flights October 26, 2025 Starlink Group 10-21
B1078 22 flights July 26, 2025 Starlink Group 10-26

As of Sunday, October 26, 2025. Booster flight histories and mission names are subject to change as new launches occur. Consult SpaceX.com or RocketLaunch.Live for the most current information.

Falcon 9 carrying Starlink 10-21 rises into Florida skies on its way to orbit this morning.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10-37 — Go for Launch!
Organization SpaceX
Customer / Payload Provider SpaceX — Starlink Division
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 Tuesday, 10/28/2025 9:14 AM
Window Closes Tuesday, 10/28/2025 1:14 PM
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation — SpaceX’s project for a global, space-based Internet communication system.
Broadcast Start Time Coverage typically begins ~15 minutes before liftoff.
SpaceX Streaming Coverage Watch Live on SpaceX.com
Spaceflight Now YouTube Coverage Watch on YouTube – Spaceflight Now Live Stream

As of 12:18 PM Saturday October 25, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

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File photo of a ULA Atlas V launching. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
File photo of a ULA Atlas V launching. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

The ever-dwindling supply of Atlas V rockets will shrink by one more in a couple of weeks if all goes to plan for United Launch Alliance. The company announced today that they plan to launch the ViaSat 3 mission in early November aboard the venerable rocket.

(Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., Oct. 28, 2025) – Due to the continuation of severe weather impacting launch processing, the launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket carrying the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 (F2) mission for Viasat is now planned for no earlier than Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, pending range approval.

The launch is scheduled for 10:24 p.m. EST at the opening of a 44-minute window, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

Viasat-3 is a three-satellite, geostationary Ka-band constellation planned to deliver global coverage. Operated by Viasat, Inc., the first satellite was launched in 2023. The system is designed to provide 100+ Mbps broadband service to homes, businesses and enterprises, as well as connectivity for commercial aircraft and government users.

This will be a replacement satellite for ViaSat-3 F1, which launched on 1 May 1st 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. While the payload was delivered successfully by SpaceX, the deployment of the satellite’s antennae was subnominal, and its performance was so poor that it triggered a $420+ insurance claim for payload loss.

Launch schedules being what they are, the potential for this new launch date to move is ever-present, so it will be worth keeping an eye on.

At A Glance

Details
Mission Atlas V 551 | ViaSat-3 — Go for Launch!
Organization United Launch Alliance (ULA)
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 Wednesday, 11/05/2025 10:24 PM
Window Closes Wednesday, 11/05/2025 11:08 PM
Destination Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Mission Description The ViaSat-3 series of Ka-band satellites is designed to deliver more than 1 terabit per second of network capacity per satellite, with flexible, dynamically steerable bandwidth to serve customers where demand is highest.
Broadcast Start Time Coverage typically begins ~15 minutes before liftoff.
ULA Streaming Coverage Watch Live on ULA’s Mission Page  |  ULA YouTube Channel
Spaceflight Now YouTube Coverage Watch on YouTube – Spaceflight Now Live Stream

As of 3:57 PM Tuesday October 28, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult ULA’s mission page for the most current information.

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The rocket was clearly visible from The Cape as it passed to the south.

SpaceX launched its eleventh integrated flight of the Starship and Super Heavy booster system on Monday evening from Boca Chica in southeast Texas close to the Mexican border. Today’s mission tested core Starship systems including flight operations, launch, stage separation, engine relight, and controlled splashdowns among many other objectives. It was largely successful and marked a transition point for the company’s vehicle development program.

Starship light 11 lifts off from Boca Chica, Texas on October 13, 2025 Photo: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now
Starship light 11 lifts off from Boca Chica, Texas on October 13, 2025
Photo: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now

Liftoff occurred at 6:23 PM Central Time. Shortly after launch, the Super Heavy booster separated from the upper stage as planned and performed a controlled descent before splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico. There was no attempt to catch the booster using the tower’s mechanical arms. Before the launch SpaceX had reported that the descent data would inform future recovery efforts. In any event, the descent and landing of the booster appeared to be nominal in all respects until the rocket splashed down.

Ship 28, Starship’s upper stage, continued on a suborbital trajectory and deployed eight Starlink satellite simulators. It also successfully restarted its Raptor engines in space—an important test for missions that require multiple burns. The vehicle later reentered the atmosphere and splashed down in the Indian Ocean off of the northwest coast of Australia.

This flight is expected to be the final mission using the current version of the Starship hardware, as SpaceX prepares to introduce a more advanced variant, Version 3, with updated systems and structures. Engineers also gathered data on heat shielding and aerodynamic performance, which are critical for future operational flights.

Elon Musk watched the launch from outside mission control, describing the view as a different experience from past launches. No official statements were made during the live broadcast beyond brief technical updates.

Starship Flight 11. Photo: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now
Starship Flight 11. Photo: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now
Starship Flight 11. Photo: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now

NASA is monitoring the Starship program closely, as the vehicle is planned to serve as a lunar lander for future Artemis missions. While timelines remain uncertain, successful flights like this one move the system closer to the performance levels required for human-rated missions.

Another group watching closely were Space Coast residents. Starship is expected to heavily utilize the Eastern Range for many of its flights once it is operational, and tonight’s flight served as a preview of things to come in the area, probably sooner rather than later.

Video credit: Michael Lynch of Talk of Titusville

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Starlink launching in 2023 from SLC-40 in Cape Canaveral.
Starlink launching in 2023 from SLC-40 in Cape Canaveral.
File photo: Starlink launching in 2023 from SLC-40 in Cape Canaveral.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX is planning to launch another tranche of Kuiper satellites for Amazon from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Monday evening after weather delays stopped previous attempts last week. The current launch window opens at 08:08 PM ET (0008 Z), and closes at 10:22:00 PM the same day. Weather here at the launch site is all but perfect, but out at sea, conditions in the expected booster landing area will remain a concern for at least another couple of days.

After launching and powering the initial ascent phase for the mission, Booster 1091-2 will complete its second mission by landing on ASDS  ‘Just Read the Instructions’, which is stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean.

Should it be required, a backup launch opportunity is available on Tuesday, October 14 starting at 7:46:00 PM ET.

At A Glance

Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Project Kuiper (KF-03) — Go for Launch!
Organization SpaceX
Customer / Payload Provider Amazon Kuiper Systems
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 Monday, 10/13/2025 8:08 PM
Window Closes Monday, 10/13/2025 10:22 PM
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description Third of a three-launch contract for Amazon’s Kuiper low Earth orbit satellite internet constellation, with 24 satellites on board.
Broadcast Start Time Coverage typically begins ~15 minutes before launch.
SpaceX Streaming Coverage Watch Live on SpaceX.com
Spaceflight Now YouTube Coverage Watch on YouTube – Spaceflight Now Live Stream

As of 11:48 AM Friday October 10, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force’s Launch Delta 45 has forecast a 95% chance of acceptable conditions at The Cape, and they have also outlined concerns in the booster recovery area.

Trajectory

The vehicle is expected to insert its payloads into a roughly 630 km altitude, 52° inclination orbit — the same operational orbit used for prior Kuiper launches.

Payload

Tonight’s launch carries 24 Kuiper satellites, built for Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation. These spacecraft are designed for broadband internet delivery, each outfitted with advanced phased-array antennas and inter-satellite laser links to route data across the network.

Together, they will bolster a growing low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband mesh that Amazon aims will eventually consist of over 3,200 satellites to provide global high-speed internet access.

Once in service, these 24 new Kuiper satellites will add capacity and redundancy to the live network. They’re expected to support continuous global coverage in coordination with previously launched Kuiper craft, making the network more robust against outages or orbital anomalies.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The best options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1.

The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.

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.

Launch Viewing: Online

SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Kuiper KF-03. 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.

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.

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ULA Atlas V lifts off, starting the Kuiper KA-03 mission from Cape Canaveral.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

United Launch Alliance launched one of its dwindling supply of Atlas V rockets this morning from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was at 08:09 AM ET into “Chamber of Commerce” blue skies.

After today’s mission, there are only eleven Atlas V vehicles remaining, with six devoted to Boeing’s Starliner program, four for Project Kuiper, and one for a Viasat mission.

Today’s payload was 27 operational broadband satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation, bringing the total number of satellites launched by ULA to 81, with more to come later. Atlas V flew true and delivered the satellites to orbit exactly as planned.

The view of liftoff of Atlas V from Loop Road on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

The Atlas V 551 rocket, used for this launch, is among ULA’s more powerful configurations. It includes five solid rocket boosters and a medium payload fairing. The mission is part of a deployment strategy that includes multiple launch providers and vehicle types, including upcoming launches on ULA’s Vulcan Centaur, SpaceX Falcon 9, and the European Ariane 6.

ULA said today that their next launch is ViaSat-3, planned to launch from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. No launch date was given.

Payload

The Kuiper project is Amazon’s initiative to provide broadband internet service through a constellation of satellites. Today’s launch is the fifth of a series of launches of operational Kuiper satellites that aim to meet the conditions set by the Federal Communications Commission, which require half of the planned 3,236 satellites to be in orbit by mid-2026. The full network is expected to be completed by mid-2029, with rudimentary service set to start as soon as late this year.

Following deployment this morning, the satellites will elevate their initial orbit of approximately 450 kilometers to an operational altitude of around 630 kilometers. From this position, they will begin supporting future broadband service coverage as part of Amazon’s long-term strategy to enter the satellite internet market.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10-59 — Go for Launch!
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 Sunday, 09/28/2025 3:30 AM
Window Closes Sunday, 09/28/2025 7:30 AM
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation — SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

As of 12:46 PM Thursday September 25, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

Atlas V in flight on September 25, 2025
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
ULA Atlas V lifts off, starting the Kuiper KA-03 mission from Cape Canaveral.
Photo: Chris Leymarie, FMN
Photo: Chris Leymarie, FMN
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