Florida Space Coast

Artemis II at LC-39B on February 1, 2026
Photo: Charles Boyer

Teams at Kennedy Space Center conducted and mostly completed a critical Wet Dress Rehearsal for the launch of the Artemis II rocket and ground support teams yesterday. The test was not without problems: Hydrogen leaks at the tail mast area of the pad and an issue closing Orion’s hatches bedeviled the tests, resulting in NASA announcing that the launch of the Artemis II mission is now no earlier than March 6, 2026.

“The Artemis II wet dress rehearsal countdown was terminated at the T-5:15 minute mark due to a liquid hydrogen leak at the interface of the tail service mast umbilical, which had experienced high concentrations of liquid hydrogen earlier in the countdown, as well,” NASA said.

A view of the Tail Mast and the retractable Liquid Hydrogen feed lines for SLS. Photo: NASA

In a press conference today, Artemis II Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said, “When we got into the LH2 fast fill—which was around 12:29—is when we picked up our first leak in the SMU, in the cavity, which is where the flight and the ground plate come together. It’s that cavity in between. It’s in our eight-inch fill and drain line there. We have a QD that connects those two together.”

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson in today’s NASA press conference. Via NASA livestream

“It was similar to some of the signatures we saw during Artemis I. Our leak rate was a little bit higher—somewhere around 12 to 14%,” Blackwell-Thompson continued. “We tried a contingency procedure that we used during Artemis I: you let that QD warm up, you let the seal warm up, and you try it again. We did that a couple of times, worked our way through it, and were able to load the core stage all the way to replenish.”

When asked what items were missed in the Wet Dress Rehearsal, Blackwell-Thompson said, “What we didn’t get to do: we wanted to get through terminal count. We wanted to get inside terminal count, hold, and verify our three-minute hold capability—tanks in launch-ready state and you can hold them for up to three minutes.”

“We also wanted to demonstrate a recycle: come down, have a planned cutoff, come back and retarget a new T-0 within the launch window. Didn’t get a chance to do that.”

What’s Next

Before the March window, NASA’s engineers and mission managers will review data, equipment and procedures from the WDR yesterday and they will conduct a second Wet Dress Rehearsal before committing to a launch date. Of key interest are the Tail Mast interfaces that deliver LH2 to the rocket’s propellant tanks.

“With the conclusion of the wet dress rehearsal today, we are moving off the February launch window and targeting March for the earliest possible launch of Artemis II,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said today. “With more than three years between SLS launches, we fully anticipated encountering challenges. That is precisely why we conduct a wet dress rehearsal. These tests are designed to surface issues before flight and set up launch day with the highest probability of success.”

Remaining Launch Windows

ARTEMIS II MISSION AVAILABILITY – SPRING 2026

(Subject to Adjustments)

March 2026

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April 2026

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Launch Window Available
Launch Window Opening Window
Date Local Time UTC Lighting Mins
Mar 6 8:29 PM EST Mar 7, 01:29 2.05 hrs after sunset 120
Mar 7 8:57 PM EST Mar 8, 01:57 2.51 hrs after sunset 120
Mar 8 10:56 PM EDT Mar 9, 02:56 3.48 hrs after sunset 120
Mar 9 11:52 PM EDT Mar 10, 03:52 4.40 hrs after sunset 120
Mar 10 12:48 AM EDT Mar 10, 04:48 5.36 hrs after sunset 115
Apr 1 6:24 PM EDT Apr 1, 22:24 1.28 hrs before sunset 120
Apr 3 8:00 PM EDT Apr 4, 00:00 0.30 hrs after sunset 120
Apr 4 8:53 PM EDT Apr 5, 00:53 1.17 hrs after sunset 120
Apr 5 9:40 PM EDT Apr 6, 01:40 1.95 hrs after sunset 120
Apr 6 10:36 PM EDT Apr 7, 02:36 2.87 hrs after sunset 120
Apr 30 6:06 PM EDT Apr 30, 22:06 1.86 hrs before sunset 120

↔ Scroll table on mobile

As of: February 3, 2026 at 8:32 AM EST

The Good and The Bad

A liquid hydrogen leak at the LC-39B’s Tail Mast umbilical connection to SLS’s core stage forced engineers into a troubleshooting effort that pushed the countdown about two hours behind schedule. The team cycled through several repair attempts, first halting LH2 flow, then letting the interface warm so seals could seat themselves properly, and finally by tweaking propellant flow rates before pressing ahead. Ultimately, they were successful in their efforts and got the 322-foot tall rocket fully fueled, but a great deal of time was lost during the effort.

NASA graphic from their livestream indicated that SLS was fully loaded with propellant by 5:45 PM ET

Secondly, a recently replaced valve tied to Orion’s crew hatch pressurization system needed to be retorqued, and closeout work ran longer than expected. NASA stated around 10 PM last night that, “The closeout crew remains in the White Room and has closed the Orion spacecraft’s crew module hatch. While performing seal pressurization checks on the counterbalance assembly, which could be used to help open the hatch, a valve associated with Orion’s hatch pressurization was inadvertently vented. The counterbalance assembly then needed to be repressurized to allow work to continue.”

Finally, communications issues from SLS to ground caused some issues and will need to be remediated prior to the next Wet Dress Rehearsal, much less any launch attempt in March.

Clearly, there’s some work to do before Artemis II will be ready to fly.

The Artemis II crew has been released from quarantine for the time being. Once a new potential launch date becomes clearer, they will return to quarantine and fly to Kennedy Space Center for final preparations prior to launch.

NASA has scheduled a 1 PM ET press conference to offer more details.

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Artemis II stands tall in the chilly air on February 1st, 2026
Photo: Charles Boyer

The countdown for the Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal is underway at Kennedy Space Center. Yesterday at 8:13 PM ET, or L-48:40 hours, the simulated countdown began in preparation for a test launch window opening at 9 PM tomorrow, February 2nd.

Artemis II will not launch during this countdown, of course, as it is just a test countdown. The Artemis II crew will not be aboard during Orion the WDR.

Sometime around 1 AM ET Tuesday, or February 3rd, the WDR will conclude.

What Comes After The WDR

After the test cycle concludes, engineers and mission managers will review data gathered during the Wet Dress Rehearsal. This process may take a few days as each major system is reviewed. Since Artemis I, NASA has implemented changes to the liquid Hydrogen systems at LC-39B. That will be a particular area of concern, as H2 leaks bedeviled the Artemis I countdowns both in WDR and later on the night it launched.

After the Data Review, a Flight Readiness Review can be held, during which all aspects of the mission are reviewed: the SLS rocket, the Orion spacecraft, ground systems at the Cape, and the status of the recovery teams that would be first responders to a major anomaly, should one occur, and many others.

The FRR is last major review for the flight, and in it, the Artemis II management team will need to give the mission permission to proceed towards a launch. Only after that milestone is achieved will a launch date and time be announced by NASA.

Artemis II on the launch mount at LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center
Photo: Charles Boyer

The Wet Dress Rehearsal In Detail

L-49 Hours, 15 Minutes and Counting
TimeActivity
L-49H 15M Launch team arrives on stations; countdown begins
L-48H 40M Countdown clock begins
L-48H 45M – L-39H 45M LOX/LH2 system preparations for vehicle loading
L-47H 30M – L-38H 30M Fill water tank for sound suppression system
L-40H 30M – L-39H Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) powered up
L-39H 30M – L-38H 45M Core stage powered up
L-38H 45M – L-34H 30M Final preparations of four RS-25 engines
L-34 Hours, 30 Minutes and Counting
TimeActivity
L-33H 45M – L-33H 10M ICPS powered down
L-32H 30M – L-28H 30M Charge Orion flight batteries to 100%
L-30H 30M – L-23H 30M Charge core stage flight batteries
L-19H 30M – L-16H Orion crew suit regulator leak checks
L-19H 15M – L-17H 45M ICPS powered up for launch
L-15 Hours and Counting
TimeActivity
L-14H 30M – L-13H All non-essential personnel leave Launch Complex 39B
L-13H 15M – L-11H 05M Air-to-GN2 changeover and vehicle cavity inerting
L-12H 45M – L-11H 15M Ground Launch Sequencer (GLS) activation
L-11 Hours, 40 Minutes and Counting
TimeActivity
L-11H 35M – L-9H 20M Built-in hold: 2 hours, 15 minutes
L-11H 40M – L-10H 30M Weather and tanking briefing
L-10H 20M Go/No-Go decision to begin tanking
L-10H 20M – L-9H Orion cold soak
L-10H 10M – L-9H 50M Core stage LOX transfer line chilldown
L-10H 10M – L-9H 25M Core stage LH2 chilldown
L-10 Hours and Counting
TimeActivity
L-9H 50M – L-9H 10M Core stage LOX main propulsion system chilldown
L-9H 25M – L-9H Core stage LH2 slow fill start
L-9H 20M Resume T-Clock from T-8H 10M
L-9H 10M – L-8H 55M Core stage LOX slow fill
L-9H – L-7H 40M Core stage LH2 fast fill
L-8H 55M – L-6H 10M Core stage LOX fast fill
L-8H 45M – L-8H 10M ICPS LH2 chilldown
L-8H 10M – L-7H 25M ICPS LH2 fast fill start
L-7H 45M – L-6H ICPS LOX main propulsion system chilldown
L-7H 40M – L-7H 30M Core stage LH2 topping
L-7H 30M – terminal Core stage LH2 replenish
L-7H 25M – L-7H 05M ICPS LH2 vent and relief test
L-7H 05M – L-6H 55M ICPS LH2 tank topping start
L-6H 50M – terminal ICPS LH2 replenish
L-6H 10M – L-5H 40M Orion communications system activated (RF to Mission Control)
L-6H 10M – L-5H 40M Core stage LOX topping
L-6 Hours and Counting
TimeActivity
L-6H – L-5H 15M ICPS LOX fast fill
L-5H 40M – terminal Core stage LOX replenish
L-5H 40M Stage pad rescue; closeout crew assemble
L-5H 15M – L-5H ICPS LOX vent and relief test
L-5H – L-4H 40M ICPS LOX topping
L-4H 40M – terminal ICPS LOX replenish; all stages replenish
L-4H 40M Built-in hold: 40 minutes
L-4H 40M – L-4H 25M Closeout crew to white room
L-4H 30M – L-4H 20M Crew Module hatch preps and closure
L-4H 20M – L-3H 20M Counterbalance mechanism hatch seal/press decay checks
L-3H 20M – L-2H 40M Crew Module hatch service panel install/closeouts
L-2H 40M – L-2H 20M Launch Abort System (LAS) hatch closure for flight
L-1H 45M – L-1H 40M Closeout crew departs Launch Complex 39B
L-1H 10M Launch Director brief – Flight vehicle/TPS scan results with CICE
L-40 Minutes and Holding
TimeActivity
L-40M Built-in hold: 30 minutes
L-25 Minutes and Holding
TimeActivity
L-25M Transition team to Orion-to-Earth comm loop following final NTD briefing
L-16M Launch Director polls team for “Go” for launch
T-10 Minutes – Terminal Count
TimeActivity
T-10M Ground Launch Sequencer (GLS) initiates terminal count
T-8M Crew Access Arm retract
T-6M GLS go for core stage tank pressurization; Orion set to internal power
T-5M 57S Core stage LH2 terminate replenish
T-4M GLS go for core stage APU start; APU starts; Core stage LOX terminate replenish
T-3M 30S ICPS LOX terminate replenish
T-3M 10S GLS go for purge sequence 4
T-2M 02S ICPS switches to internal battery power
T-2M Booster switches to internal battery power
T-1M 30S Core stage switches to internal power; hold for 3-minute certification hold time verification
T-1M 20S ICPS enters terminal countdown mode
T-50S ICPS LH2 terminate replenish
T-33S GLS sends “Go for Automated Launch Sequencer” command; GLS Cutoff/Recycle
Terminal Count Hold Rules:
  • Teams can hold at T-6M for the duration of the launch window (minus 6 minutes) without recycling.
  • Between T-6M and T-1M 30S: holds up to 3 minutes can resume; longer holds recycle to T-10M.
  • After T-1M 30S but before automated sequencer: recycle to T-10M if window permits.
  • After automated sequencer handover: any stop concludes the launch attempt for that day.

Source: Countdown Begins for Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal, NASA, January 31, 2026.

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Artist’s rendering of Starship on its launch mount at LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center

The 50,000 foot view

The Federal Aviation Administration released the Final Environmental Impact Statement and its Record of Decision regarding the matter this morning. The Record of Decision approves SpaceX to operate Starship-Super Heavy at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, clearing the final major regulatory hurdle for the company’s next-generation launch vehicle on Florida’s Space Coast.

Now, SpaceX needs to complete the build out its infrastructure at LC-39A, relocate Starship flight hardware from Boca Chica, Texas to KSC, and obtain the necessary FAA launch license(s) to launch the 408.1 feet (124.4 meter) tall rocket. It will be the most powerful rocket to ever launch from the Eastern Range, eclipsing the venerable Saturn V, New Glenn and even SLS Block I.

The decision authorizes up to 44 Starship-Super Heavy launches and 88 landings annually—44 each for the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage. Ocean landings on droneships in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans are also permitted.

The approval follows a 16-month environmental review process that began with a Notice of Intent published in May 2024, included multiple public comment periods, and culminated in the Final Environmental Impact Statement released today.

FAA Record of Decision: SpaceX Starship at LC-39A Kennedy Space Center • Signed Jan 29, 2026
Category Details
🚀 Approved Operations
Annual Limits Approved
44 launches • 88 landings (44 Super Heavy + 44 Starship) • 88 static fires
  • Super Heavy: LC-39A catch or Atlantic Ocean droneship/expendable
  • Starship: LC-39A, Atlantic/Pacific/Indian Ocean droneship or water landing
Infrastructure Approved
~800,000 sq ft improvements: launch mount, catch tower, propellant generation (methane liquefier, air separation unit), storage tanks, deluge ponds, water system (~518,000 L/launch)
⚠️ Significant Environmental Effects
Emissions Significant
NOx: 385.66 tons/yr (54% over threshold, 4.35% of Brevard County)
GHG: 217,354 MT CO2e/yr (319% over threshold, 2.81% of county)
Noise Significant
Sonic booms exceed 60 dB CDNL on 28,595 acres off-KSC • Up to 82% awakening probability at night • Outdoor levels exceed 97 dB max at locations outside KSC/CCSFS
Air Traffic Significant
Avg delay: ~40 min (up to 2 hrs) • Ground stops at Core 30 FL airports • Coordination with Canada, Bahamas, Mexico, Central America, Cuba
🚧 Access Restrictions
Closures Tests: ~396 hrs/yr (4.5%) • Launches/reentries: ~462 hrs/yr (5.3%) • Total: ~10% of year (half day/half night)
NPS revenue impact: $239K–$423K/yr (13–24% loss to Canaveral National Seashore)
🐢 Wildlife Conditions (USFWS)
Training & Surveys Required
All personnel: wildlife training before onsite work (species ID, sea turtle/scrub-jay/indigo snake/manatee protocols) • Pre-construction biological surveys required • Lighting Operations Manual for sea turtle season
Manatee Required
Dedicated observer on vessels in Indian River Lagoon • 50 ft minimum distance • ≤10 knots where observed • No wake/idle near docks
📊 Required Monitoring
Species Monitoring
Scrub-jay: 70% banded in 1 yr, 90% in 3 yrs; census pre/post breeding
Sea turtle: Mar 1–Oct 31; 8 light surveys/yr; all hawksbill/Kemp’s ridley/leatherback nests monitored
Beach mouse: Habitat use, survival, reproduction, population density
Physical Monitoring
Noise: 3 events each for SH/Starship static fires, launches, landings (15 total)
Vibration: Loggers at 0.3 mi, 15″ deep; min 3 launches
🐋 Marine Conditions (NMFS)
Distance & Vessel Required
Activities ≥5 nm from coast (≥1 nm within 50 mi of LC-39A) • No coral reef landings • Dedicated observer on recovery ops • 300 ft from mammals, 150 ft from turtles • ≤10 kts near mother/calf
Right Whale Required
1,500 ft minimum distance • Nov–Apr: SH and Starship cannot both land in critical habitat same flight • No landings in active Slow/Dynamic Mgmt Areas • Flight reports within 30 days until full reusability
🏛️ Historic Preservation (NHPA)
Structures Monitoring
9 structures monitored through first 5 launches + 5 SH landings + 1 Starship landing: St. Gabriel’s Church, Pritchard House, Walker Apts (Titusville); Cocoa Jr High, Aladdin Theater (Cocoa); Cape Canaveral Lighthouse (CCSFS); John Sams House, St. Luke’s Church (Merritt Island); Beach House (KSC)
Programmatic Agreement executed Nov 22, 2025 with FL SHPO & Seminole Tribe
📋 Public Notice & Coordination
Notifications Launch schedules via news outlets, KSC SIMS, NASASpaceflight.com, Florida Today app, Brevard County Emergency Mgmt
Claims Property damage: insurance@spacex.com (SpaceX carries insurance per Commercial Space Launch Act)
Annual Meetings Required
USFWS: Jan 1–31 annually (NASA, SpaceX, FAA, USFWS, NPS, USSF) • NHPA: November annually
Record of Decision: SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy at LC-39A, KSC | Signed: Jan 29, 2026 by Katie L. Cranor, FAA | FAA Project Page

Milestones To Launching Starship From Kennedy Space Center

Updated today:

SpaceX Starship Approval Milestones: LC-39A Kennedy Space Center • FAA Environmental Impact Statement & Launch License Process
Status Milestone Date Details
Complete Notice of Intent PublishedFAA May 10, 2024 FAA initiated the EIS process via Federal Register publication
Complete Public Scoping PeriodFAA May–Jun 2024 Public input gathered on scope of environmental review; ended June 24, 2024
Complete Draft EIS ReleasedFAA Aug 4, 2025 Draft EIS published for up to 44 launches and 44 landings per year
Complete Draft EIS Comment PeriodFAA Aug 4–Sep 29, 2025 Hearings at KSC (Aug 26), Cape Canaveral (Aug 28), virtual (Sept 3); view comments
Complete Final EIS PublicationFAA Jan 30, 2026 Final EIS published addressing all public comments
Complete Record of Decision (ROD)FAA Jan 30, 2026 ROD issued with decision, mitigations, and monitoring requirements
Ongoing Infrastructure CompletionSpaceX Mid-2026 (proj.) Launch mount (installed Nov 2025), tank farm, deluge system, chopstick upgrades
Pending Vehicle Operator LicenseFAA Expected 2026 New or modified launch license for Starship-Super Heavy at LC-39A; FAA project page
Upcoming First Starship LaunchSpaceX 2026 (targeted) Initial vehicles transported from Starbase, Texas via barge
Lead Agency: FAA | Cooperating: NASA, Dept. of Air Force, Coast Guard, Fish & Wildlife, National Park Service | Updated: Jan 30, 2026

FAA Documents

The original documents are at the FAA’s Project Website, located here

Executive Summary

SpaceX-SSH-LC-39A-Final-EIS_Executive-SummaryDownload

Record of Decision

SpaceX-SSH-LC-39A-Final-EIS-RODDownload

For those who are interested in reading the minutiae of the Decision, here is a list of links to all available documents:

Final EIS Documents: SpaceX Starship at LC-39A Kennedy Space Center • Published January 30, 2026
The electronic versions of the Final EIS and ROD are available for download from the FAA website.
Source: FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation | All documents in PDF format
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Starship Heavy lifts off from Boca Chica, Texas to start the IFT-6 mission. Photo: Richard Gallagher, FMN
Starship tower under construction in 2022 Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
Starship tower under construction in 2022
Photo: Charles Boyer

Things are hopping over at Kennedy Space Center. The Artemis II crew is preparing for humanity’s first crewed mission around the Moon in over 50 years, and Crew-12 awaits its turn to rotate astronauts aboard the International Space Station. That’s keeping NASA and its contracting partners working hard and tightly focused on the missions.

At the same time, the Federal Aviation Administration is on the verge of completing its environmental review of SpaceX’s plan to launch Starship from Launch Complex 39A.

The FAA’s first estimated completion date for the Final Environmental Impact Statement is January 30, 2026 — today — according to the federal permitting dashboard. While it may not be released today, it does indicate that the document and the Record of Decision will be released soon.

What’s At Stake

SpaceX could receive regulatory clearance to operate the world’s most powerful rocket from the same complex where Apollo 11 and dozens of Space Shuttle missions got their starts.

None of those historic missions ever concluded at LC-39A, however, and that’s part of what SpaceX is planning to do fairly regularly at KSC: launching Starship Heavy and landing Starship missions there after their job in space has been completed. Their proposal kicked off the process whose middle act could conclude any day now.

Where We Are In The Process

SpaceX Starship LC-39A Approval Milestones
SpaceX Starship Approval Milestones: LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center FAA Environmental Impact Statement & Launch License Process
Milestone Date Status Details
Notice of Intent Published
FAA		 May 10, 2024 Complete FAA initiated the EIS process via Federal Register publication
Public Scoping Period
FAA		 May–June 2024 Complete Public input gathered on scope of environmental review; ended June 24, 2024
Draft EIS Released
FAA		 August 4, 2025 Complete Draft EIS published for up to 44 Starship launches and 44 landings per year
Draft EIS Public Comment Period
FAA		 Aug 4–Sept 29, 2025 Complete Public hearings held at KSC (Aug 26), Cape Canaveral (Aug 28), and virtually (Sept 3)
Final EIS Publication
FAA		 Q1 2026 (expected) Pending FAA will address all public comments and issue the Final EIS
Record of Decision (ROD)
FAA		 ~Jan 30, 2026 (est.) Pending FAA issues ROD with decision, mitigations, and monitoring requirements
Per permits.performance.gov estimated completion date
Vehicle Operator License Issuance
FAA		 After ROD Upcoming New or modified commercial launch license for Starship-Super Heavy operations at LC-39A
Infrastructure Completion
SpaceX		 Mid-2026 (projected) Upcoming Launch mount (installed Nov 2025), tank farm, deluge system, chopstick upgrades, service structure outfitting
First Starship Launch from LC-39A
SpaceX		 2026 (targeted) Upcoming Initial vehicles will be transported from Starbase, Texas via barge
Lead Agency: FAA  |  Cooperating Agencies: NASA, Dept. of the Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service
Source: FAA Stakeholder Engagement Portal, Federal Register, permits.performance.gov  |  Updated: January 2026

The FAA Isn’t NASA Though…

At Kennedy Space Center, NASA and the FAA have distinct roles. NASA manages the spaceport and leases LC-39A to SpaceX. On the other hand, the FAA has authority over commercial launch licensing, and, as the responsible agency, it must complete an independent environmental review before SpaceX can launch or land Starship from the site.

“While the 2019 Environmental Assessment prepared by NASA provides an analytical baseline, the environmental impacts of these proposed changes to Starship-Super Heavy LC-39A development and operations will be specifically analyzed in this EIS,” the FAA noted in its project documentation.

The scope has changed dramatically since that 2019 assessment. SpaceX now proposes up to 44 Starship launches per year — nearly double the original 24 — along with booster catches at the pad using the company’s signature “chopstick” tower arms, a capability that didn’t exist when NASA issued its original Finding of No Significant Impact.

The FAA released its Draft EIS on August 4, 2025, triggering a public comment period that closed on September 29. The agency held public hearings at Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, and online, collecting feedback that must be addressed in the Final EIS before a Record of Decision can be issued.

Now the Final Environmental Impact Statement is on deck, and that could come out any day.

Meanwhile, Back At The Rocket Ranch…

SpaceX hasn’t sat on its hands waiting for regulatory approval. The company has transformed LC-39A over the past year, pivoting from a Starship tower not being worked on to an active construction site steadily advancing toward operational status.

The most visible progress came in November 2025, when SpaceX transported a new orbital launch mount from its Roberts Road manufacturing facility to the pad. The original mount design was scrapped earlier in 2025 in favor of hardware matching the company’s latest configuration at Starbase in Texas.

Other work continues as well — construction of a tank farm to store propellants, outfitting the service structure and more. Clearly, SpaceX expects good news in the EIS and ROD, and given that Starship is an integral part of Project Artemis, it’s fair to say that those two legal hurdles are effectively fait accompli, and that when they are released, they will be positive for this ongoing project.

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New Glenn NG-2 ESCAPADE lifting off on November 13. 2025 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
New Glenn NG-2 ESCAPADE lifting off on November 13. 2025 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
New Glenn NG-2 ESCAPADE lifting off on November 13. 2025
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Blue Origin is picking up the pace in Cape Canaveral. The company announced today that the next flight of New Glenn (NG-3) is scheduled for NET late February. NG-2, New Glenn’s second flight, launched on November 13, 2025 on a wholly successful mission to launch two NASA satellites to Mars. NG-3 will come within 4 months of that.

Blue is planning to use the same New Glenn booster as it did with NG-2 — “Never Tell Me The Odds.” That booster landed on Blue Origin’s recovery ship “Jacklyn” after its debut flight, and Blue Origin engineers must feel confident enough in the refurbishment and flight preparation for NTMTO that the company can schedule a target date for its next flight. This flight will mark the first re-use of a New Glenn booster.

After NG-2, Blue Origin's recovery ship 'Jacklyn' with the mission's booster arrive back in Port Canaveral in November 2025. Photo: Charles Boyer
After NG-2, Blue Origin’s recovery ship ‘Jacklyn’ with the mission’s booster arrive back in Port Canaveral in November 2025. Photo: Charles Boyer

Payload Announcement for NG-3

Blue Origin also announced that NG-3 will carry AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation Block 2 BlueBird satellite to low Earth orbit.

AST SpaceMobile selected Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket in November 2024 to launch satellites for its Bluebird cellular broadband network. The constellation will serve both commercial and government telecommunications markets, providing seamless connectivity as mobile devices transition between ground-based cellular towers and space-based coverage—delivering broadband access anywhere on Earth.

“We’re proud to have AST SpaceMobile as our customer on NG-3,” said Dave Limp, CEO, Blue Origin in a press release announcing the flight timeline. “Our customers need a reliable, cost-effective launch vehicle, and New Glenn is purpose-built to serve their needs.” 

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Timelapse of the launch of Amazon Leo AL-04 early this morning.
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.”

Atlas V lifts off from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on December 16, 2025
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.
Liftoff of Atlas V on the Amazon Leo 4
Photo: United Launch Alliance
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SpaceX Starship Photo: SpaceX

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_508Download


“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.

See also: Department of the Air Force Releases Final Environmental Impact Statement For Starship At SLC-37

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