Falcon 9

SpaceX Falcon 9 launching BlueBird 1-5 on September 12, 2024. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
SpaceX Falcon 9 launching BlueBird 1-5 on September 12, 2024. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

2025 is here, and it won’t take long for the Eastern Range to open its new year for the facility: SpaceX plans to launch the Thuraya 4-NGS satellite for UAE based Yahsat on Friday evening, while preparations for Blue Origin to the fly New Glenn on its maiden launch continue apace, with a target date of early Monday morning.

Quick Glance At The Year To Come

There were 93 launches from KSC and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in 2024, with the bulk of those launches being SpaceX / Falcon 9 missions. In 2025, Elon Musk said “Probably [greater than] 180 Falcon launches in 2025” and the bulk of those will be from here on the Space Coast.

United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno said ULA has 20 missions on its 2025 manifest. Payload readiness will be the apparent limiting limiting factor, according to Bruno, and like Falcon 9, the bulk of those missions will launch from the company’s Eastern Range launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41.

Blue Origin will also add to the launch count, with several New Glenn missions slated to lift off from LC-36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The current target for the year has not been stated by the company, and much depends on the success of the first flew flights of the new rocket.

All in all, it is fair to say that like 2024, the record for the number of launches from Florida will be broken come year’s end.

SpaceX

SpaceX has two launches on the schedule for this weekend.

  • Thuraya 4-NGS – Friday 3 January – 08:27 PM – 12:53 AM EST
  • Starlink 6-71 – Sunday 5 January – 12:10PM – 4:41 PM EST

Thuraya 4

A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off carrying the GSAT-20 mission on November 18, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off carrying the GSAT-20 mission on November 18, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

Thuraya 4-NGS is a communication satellite built by Airbus UAE-based Al Yah Satellite Communications Company P.J.S.C. (Yahsat). It is built on the all-electric Airbus Eurostar-Neo Platform and will incorporate a large 12-meter L-band antenna and a payload capable of processing providing 3200 channels over a large number of spot beams.

Thuraya is the mobile satellite services subsidiary of the UAE-based Al Yah Satellite Communications Company P.J.S.C. (Yahsat), a public company and subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company. Established in 1997, Thuraya is the UAE’s first home-grown satellite operator.

Formed in 2008 and publicly traded on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Yahsat serves customers in 150 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia and Australia. They offer voice, data, video and internet services for broadcast, Internet, and VSAT users for both private and government organizations.

Thuraya 4 rendering, released by Yahsat.

Thuraya 4 will be aboard Falcon 9 and launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Via Space Launch Delta 45 of the US Air Force on 1/1/2025

Starlink 6-71

SpaceX plans to add to its ever-growing Starlink constellation with the Starlink 6-71 mission. There are around 6,800 Starlink satellites in orbit currently, with several thousand more planned. The mission will carry another batch of 20-23 Starlink Mini V2 units to join the company’s Group 6 band of satellites.

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

Falcon 9 will be again be the workhorse for this mission, also planned to launch from SLC-40 on Sunday afternoon, with the window opening at 12:10 PM EST.

Neither launch has been officially announced by SpaceX, so stay tuned.

Blue Origin

After completing its integrated vehicle hotfire test and wet dress rehearsal successfully, Blue Origin appears to be planning to launch New Glenn from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the wee hours of Monday morning with the launch window opening at 01:00 AM EST on January 6th.

New Glenn during successful integrated vehicle hotfire.
Photo: Blue Origin

Following the hotfire, Blue Origin’s prime investor and driving force, Jeff Bezos said succinctly, “Next stop launch.”

This will be the first flight of the 320-foot tall rocket for the company. Aboard will be test components for Blue Ring.

Despite the late (or early?) hour that Blue Origin plans to launch New Glenn, this is likely one of the launches of the year from the Eastern Range. That’s because New Glenn is large, and mighty with 3.8 million pounds of thrust coming from seven Blue Origin BE-4 engines. This promises to be a loud rocket, and one well worth watching.

The launch window extends from 01:00 AM EST (0600Z) to 04:45 AM (1045Z) the same day.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off at the stroke of midnight December 29th. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

After two previous delays, including an abort-at-ignition and a booster swap, SpaceX launched the ‘From One To Many’ payload for Astranis tonight from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral aboard Falcon 9. Liftoff was at 12:00 AM EST (05:00 UTC) under broken skies on the Space Coast.

SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off at the stroke of midnight December 29th.
SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off at the stroke of midnight December 29th. It was carrying the Astranis ‘From One To Many’ payload to orbit.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Around 8.5 minutes later, Falcon 9 Booster B1083 completed its seventh mission successfully when it touched down on ASDS ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. ASOG and B1083 will now return to Port Canaveral, where the booster will be offloaded and returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X at Kennedy Space Center for inspection and preparation for its eighth flight.

At 3:02 AM EST, Astranis CEO said, “Great news– we have acquired and established command authority over all four spacecraft.”

Falcon 9 venting late in the countdown before its launch on January 29, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Falcon 9 venting late in the countdown before its launch on January 29, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Payload

Four Astranis MicroGEO Block 2 communications satellite were delivered to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Once they have been deployed, they will travel to their final orbital locations under their own power.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

SpaceX is planning to launch Starlink 12-6 from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center NET Monday, December 30, 2024. The launch window opens at 12:00 AM EST (0500 UTC) and closes at 3:28 AM the same day.

  • Date: NET December 30, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Mission: Starlink 12-6
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center
  • Launch Window: 12:00 – 03:28 AM EST
  • Payload: Starlink satellites for SpaceX’s ISP constellation.
A timelapse of the flight path of Falcon 9 / Astranis From One To Many on December 29, 2024
A timelapse of the flight path of Falcon 9 / Astranis From One To Many on December 29, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
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SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying the SXM-9 satellite for Sirius-XM today. Liftoff was at 11:10 AM EST from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center and into hazy but blue skies over Florida.

Around 8.25 minutes later, Falcon 9 booster B1076 touched down offshore on ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’, successfully concluding its 19th mission. ‘Just Read The Instructions’ had been pre-positioned offshore downrange and will now return to Port Canaveral where B1076 will be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X for inspection and, presumably, preparation for its 20th flight.

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Booster B1067 nearing the end of its 24th ascent. It would later land safely aboard ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas.’
Photo: Ed Cordero / FMN

SpaceX launched another group of Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit this morning. Liftoff was at 5:13 AM EST from Space Launch Complex 40 from from Cape Canaveral.

Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1067 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ to complete its record-breaking 24th mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to low Earth orbit. At about the same time the booster landed, the initial orbit for the payload was achieved, with a short orbit rounding burn just before payload deployment.

B1067 flew today 23 days after its Koreasat 6A mission on November 11, 2024. Its previous flights include the CRS-22 and CRS-25 ISS resupply missions, NASA Crew 3, Crew 4 to ISS, the TelkomSat-113BT, Turksat-5B, Koreasat-6A, Eutelsat HOTBIRD-F2, Galileo L13, mPOWER-A, PSN MFS satellites and now,13 Starlink missions. After landing and mow safely aboard ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’, the booster will return to Port Canaveral, where SpaceX will unload it and transport it to their Hangar X facility for inspection and hopefully preparation for its next flight, which would be its 25th.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

SpaceX will shift over to LC-39A to launch the Sirius XM-9 satellite for Liberty Media on Thursday, December 5. The satellite will enhance coverage of the companies satellite radio service.

  • Date: NET December 5, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Mission: Sirius XM 9
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: SLC-39A, Kennedy Space Center
  • Launch Window: 11:10 AM – 1:10 PM EST
  • Payload: Starlink satellites
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SpaceX Falcon 9 launches from Launch Complex 40 at Kennedy Space Center on November 25, 2024. Photo: SpaceX

SpaceX launched the Starlink 12-1 mission to low-Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 early Monday morning from Cape Canaveral. The launch time was 5:02 AM. According to the company, 23 Starlink satellites were deployed successfully, including 12 of the communications platform’s Direct-To-Cell capable version. According to SpaceX, “Starlink Direct to Cell network delivers seamless access to texting, voice and data on phones across the globe.”

Starlink 12-1 launches aboard Falcon 9 on November 25, 2024.
Photo courtesy SpaceX

Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1080 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ to complete its twelfth mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to low Earth orbit. About the same time that the booster landed, the initial orbit for the payload was achieved, with a short orbit rounding burn just before payload deployment.

B0180 flew today only 14 days after its Starlink 6-69 mission on November 11th, only fourteen days ago. That’s the fastest turnaround on record thus far for a Falcon 9 booster, besting the previous record of 21 days, achieved by B1062 in 2022. Now safely aboard ‘Just Read The Instructions,’ booster and barge will now return with B0180 to Port Canaveral, where B1080 will be offloaded, returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center, where it will be inspected, and presumably begin the process of it being prepared for its next mission.

At 6:08 AM EDT, SpaceX confirmed a successful deployment of the payload of Starlink satellites and a successful end to the flight.

Launch Replay

By The Numbers

  • SpaceX launch this year
  • 434th SpaceX launch all time
  • 50th consecutive successful Falcon 9 launch
  • 377th Falcon Family Booster landing
  • 98th landing on ‘Just Read The Instructions’
  • 57th launch from Space Launch Complex 40 this year

Next Launch

Space Coast residents won’t have to wait long for the next launch. SpaceX has a Falcon 9 launch carrying the Starlink 6-76 group planned for late this evening from pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. The launch window opens at 10:35 PM and extends to 2:31 AM EST Tuesday morning.

  • Date: NET November 25, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Mission: Starlink 6-76
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center
  • Launch Window: 10:35 PM – 2:31 AM EST
  • Payload: Starlink satellites

Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed anytime due to weather, technical reasons, or range conditions.

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SpaceX sent another batch of Starlink satellites to orbit this morning from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. Liftoff was at 11:07 AM EST into seasonably cool (~65ºF) and crystal blue skies over Florida.

Beautiful SKies, But Launch Bad Photography Weather

The cooler air over warmer water meant different air densities were mixing, creating perfect conditions for something I call “shimmer” but is more properly called “heat distortion.” Given that 8-9 miles is as close as almost anyone can view some launches (Starlink, especially) these are a real PITA for photographers. The stars twinkle in the night sky because of the same principles.

So, that meant taking the picture the situation allows. This is about as good a launch photo as anyone got from this launch location.

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SpaceX sent another batch of Starlink satellites to orbit this morning from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. Liftoff was at 11:07 AM EST into seasonably cool (~65ºF) and crystal blue skies over Florida.

SpaceX Starlink 6-66 rises out of the heat distortion in the air over the Banana River on November 21, 2024. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX Starlink 6-66 rises out of the heat distortion in the air over the Banana River on November 21, 2024.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Around 8.25 minutes later, Falcon 9 booster B1069 touched down offshore on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas, successfully concluding its 20th mission. ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ had been pre-positioned off the coast of The Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean and will return to Port Canaveral and B1069 will be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X for inspection and, presumably, preparation for its next flight.

The booster joins an ever-expanding group of Falcon 9 boosters with at least 20 successful missions. SpaceX has said in the past that they are working towards certifying Falcon 9 first-stage boosters for at least forty flights, but so far none has flown more than 23 times successfully: Booster B1067 is the leader in the clubhouse with 23 flights, and it is ostensibly in preparation for its next flight, its 24th.

SpaceX Starlink 6-66 ascending on November 21, 2024 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
SpaceX Starlink 6-66 ascending on November 21, 2024 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

While the booster was landing at sea on its target drone ship, the second stage of Falcon 9 continued to orbit, and achieved its initial elliptical orbit about the same time as the booster was touching down below on Earth’s surface. A quick orbital rounding burn followed, and at 12:13 PM EST, SpaceX announced that the launch was a success when it said that the payload of Starlink satellites had been successfully deployed.

By The Numbers

  • 988th launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • 273rd launch from SLC-40 at CCSFS
  • 432nd SpaceX launch all time
  • 56th launch from SLC-40 this year
  • 48th consecutive successful Falcon 9 launch
  • 375th Falcon Family Booster landing
  • 86th landing on ASOG
  • 120th SpaceX launch this year

Launch Replay

Next Launch

SpaceX is scheduled to launch the Northrup Grumman-built Optus X telecommunications satellite aboard a Falcon 9 Sunday afternoon from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.

  • Date: NET November 25, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Mission: Starlink 12-1
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 40, CCSFS
  • Launch Window: 4:32 – 8:32 AM EST
  • Payload: Starlink satellites

Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed anytime due to weather, technical reasons, or range conditions.

Read more