Eastern Range Archives - Eastern Range

December 16, 2025

ULA Launches Atlas V On Amazon Leo AL-04 Mission

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.”

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.

December 11, 2025

SpaceX Launches Secret Squirrel NROL-77 Payload Aboard Falcon 9

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.

December 8, 2025

SpaceX Launched Booster For the 32nd Time Today

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.

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

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Fleet Leaders by Flight Count

Rank	Booster	Flights	Notable Achievements
1	B1067	32 flights	Current record holder • Guinness World Record • First to reach 30 flights
2	B1071	30 flights	Most spacecraft to orbit: 1,001 • Vandenberg workhorse • 5 NRO missions
3	B1063	29 flights	Oldest surviving booster in fleet • First flight Nov 2020 • Launched NASA DART
4	B1069	28 flights	Most mass to orbit: 401,140 kg • Carried FIFA World Cup balls to space
5	B1077	25 flights	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.

December 1, 2025

DAF Releases Record of Decision For Starship At Cape Canaveral Pad LC-37

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 Record Of Decision Document

CCSFS-Starship-ROD_FINAL_SIGNED_508 Download

“No Practical Alternative”

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.