SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 late in the afternoon from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The payload was Northrop Grumman’s MRV-MEV-1 satellite servicing satellite. Liftoff was at 5:15 pm ET and into partly cloudy summer skies above the Space Coast. Orbit was achieved at T+07:55, and the payloads were successfully deployed at 35:34 elapsed minutes into the mission.
The three astronauts and one cosmonaut on NASA’s Crew 12 flight to the International Space Station have entered quarantine in preparation for their upcoming launch in about two weeks. This is a normal step in the launch campaign, and is designed to reduce the chances of communicable diseases affecting the Crew 12 flyers as well as others already aboard ISS.
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will remain in Houston until February 6th, when they are expected to fly to Kennedy Space Center for final launch preparations.
NASA has also announced launch windows for Crew 12:
| SpaceX Crew-12 Launch Windows | |
|---|---|
| Mission | NASA/SpaceX Crew-12 |
| Destination | International Space Station |
| Launch Site | SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station |
| Window 1 | Feb. 11 — 6:00 a.m. EST |
| Window 2 | Feb. 12 — 5:38 a.m. EST |
| Window 3 | Feb. 13 — 5:15 a.m. EST |
| Note | NASA continues working toward potential launch windows for both Artemis II and Crew-12 in February. Final launch dates will be determined closer to flight. |
The launch will be the second crewed flight from SLC-40. Crew 9, carrying Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, lifted off from the site on September 28, 2024, marking the second crewed launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station since Apollo 7 launched from LC-34. The ill-fated Boeing Crewed Flight Test (CFT) aboard Starliner was the first. The two CFT astronauts already aboard ISS, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, became part of Crew 9 once it was at ISS.
On one of those rare nights where it is actually winter on the Space Coast, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying the GPS III SV09 satellite to orbit for the US Space Force. Liftoff was at 11:53 PM ET into clear, chilly skies.
Ascent was normal, with Main Engine Cutoff coming at T+ 02.29 into the mission. As the second stage and payload continued towards orbit, with Booster B1096 completing its fifth mission by landing on SpaceX’s drone ship ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’, which was prepositioned off the coast of the Carolinas. ASOG and the booster will now return to Port Canaveral, where B1096 will be offloaded, returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X at Kennedy Space Center where it will be inspected, refurbished and prepared for its next mission.
GPS III Space Vehicle 09 is the ninth of ten upgraded navigation satellites built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Space Force. It offers three times better accuracy and eight times stronger anti-jamming capability compared to older GPS satellites. Military users get the encrypted M-code signal for secure operations, while civilians benefit from the L1C signal that works alongside Europe’s Galileo system.
The satellite is named “Ellison Onizuka” after the Air Force colonel and NASA astronaut lost in the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986—almost exactly 40 years ago. After reaching medium Earth orbit about 90 minutes after liftoff, SV09 will undergo testing before joining the operational GPS constellation.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Mission | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-101 — Go for Launch! |
| Organization | SpaceX |
| Location | Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Pad | Space Launch Complex 40 |
| Status | Go for Launch |
| Status Info | Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Window Opens | Thursday, 01/29/2026 11:00 PM ET |
| Window Closes | Friday, 01/30/2026 3:00 AM ET |
| 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. |
| 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
(Coverage begins ~60 minutes before launch) |
As of 6:00 PM Monday January 27, 2026. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.
It’s been a hot minute since the last Falcon 9 launch here on the Eastern Range, or at least it feels that way. Last year saw a Falcon 9 launch from Florida roughly every 3.4 days, and tonight marks the 9th day since the last SpaceX rocket roared off of SLC-40.
That dry spell should end tonight with the launch of the GPS III SV09 mission from Cape Canaveral. The launch window opens at 11:38PM ET and lasts for fifteen minutes.
Falcon 9 booster B1096 will power the mission off of the launch pad, and it is planned to complete its fifth mission when it touches down off the coast of the Carolinas aboard ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas.’ B1096 previously launched KF-01, IMAP, NROL-77, and one Starlink mission.
| Mission | Falcon 9 | GPS III-9 “Ellison Onizuka” |
|---|---|
| Status |
Go for Launch Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1096 — 5th flight) |
| Organization | SpaceX (for U.S. Space Force) |
| Location | Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA |
| Pad | Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) |
| Window |
Opens: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 — 11:38 PM ET Closes: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 — 11:53 PM ET (15-minute window)
|
| Countdown |
Loading countdown…
Target: 11:38 PM ET (Window Open)
|
| Destination | Medium Earth Orbit (~20,200 km altitude) |
| Recovery |
First stage landing on drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas (Atlantic Ocean) Touchdown approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff |
| Official Stream | SpaceX Mission Webcast |
| Spaceflight Now |
Spaceflight Now Live Coverage
Coverage begins approximately 60 minutes before liftoff |
| Mission Notes | GPS III Space Vehicle 09 is the ninth of ten GPS III satellites, delivering modernized positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities for the U.S. Space Force. GPS III provides up to 3× better accuracy and 8× improved anti-jamming performance, featuring encrypted M-code for military users and the interoperable L1C civil signal. The satellite is named for Col. Ellison Onizuka, a NASA astronaut lost in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986. Satellite deployment occurs approximately 90 minutes after liftoff. |
Northeast.
The 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force’s Launch Delta 45 issued their L-1 Launch Mission Execution Forecast yesterday, and it could not be much better, cool temperatures notwithstanding: 95+% Go throughout the launch window:
GPS III Space Vehicle 09 is the ninth of ten upgraded navigation satellites built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Space Force. It offers three times better accuracy and eight times stronger anti-jamming capability compared to older GPS satellites. Military users get the encrypted M-code signal for secure operations, while civilians benefit from the L1C signal that works alongside Europe’s Galileo system.
The satellite is named “Ellison Onizuka” after the Air Force colonel and NASA astronaut lost in the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986—almost exactly 40 years ago. After reaching medium Earth orbit about 90 minutes after liftoff, SV09 will undergo testing before joining the operational GPS constellation.
The Space Force doesn’t do press viewing for Starlink launches, a good thing since there are so many of them. That said, there are some really interesting views from public viewing spots, like this one on 528W in Cape Canaveral. Click here to see my favorite public viewing spots.
SpaceX added to its roster of Starlink satellites when it launched the Starlink Group 6-90 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. Liftoff was at 3:26 PM ET and into clear skies with temperatures hovering around 70ºF (21ºC)
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.
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.
| 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.
SpaceX added to its roster of Starlink satellites today when it launched the Starlink Group 10-17 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. Liftoff was at 1:39 PM ET and into partly cloudy skies on a day in the low 80s.
SpaceX is set to launch Falcon 9 and the SES-operated O3b mPower satellites this evening from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. Liftoff is set for 05:12 PM ET, with a two hour window extending to 07:12 PM ET.
Official weather forecasts have given the mission a 50/50 chance for acceptable weather, with roughly a 25% chance of thunderstorms in the launch area during the launch window. Keep in mind that acceptable conditions consider more than just rain, it also includes thunderstorm activity in the launch area as well as the lightning potential in the immediate vicinity of the rocket. To learn more about launch commit criteria, click here.
Boeing’s 9th and 10th O3b mPOWER satellites—launched in partnership with SES—will bolster the company’s push to deliver global connectivity from space. Leveraging Boeing’s fully software-defined payload technology, these satellites can dynamically allocate power to match user demand.
Today will mark the sixth mission for Falcon 9 first stage booster B1096, and after completing its share of the mission, the booster will touch down offshore on ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions.’
The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 of the US Space Force gives a 50% chance for weather to be acceptable during the launch window:
ESE, as is typical for equatorial orbits:
SpaceCoastLaunchCalendar.com will have a livestream of the launch if you’re not able to watch the launch in person: Livestream
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: O3B MPower Mission. 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.
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.
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.
The best free options are available for spectators: Northern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets: Space View Park, Sands Park, Rotary Riverfront Park.
The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. New York New York in Titusville will be open to roughly 7 PM, and is a great place to watch as well. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.
Last night the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) convened a virtual public meeting to gather stakeholder input on the SpaceX Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for proposed modifications at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC‑40) on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The session—rescheduled after an April 16 meeting was derailed by a nationwide Zoom outage—marked a critical opportunity for local residents, environmental advocates, industry representatives and government agencies to weigh in on SpaceX’s plan to increase Falcon 9 launch cadence and build a new first‑stage booster landing zone adjacent to the pad.
As it did in its March 2025 Draft EA, if the FAA grants the license modification with a FONSI (Finding Of No Significant Impact), Cape Canaveral could see a surge of Falcon 9 activity, which often sees two launches per week currently.
Conversely, a decision to proceed to a full EIS would extend the timeline and add further analysis layers, delaying the proposed expansion.
Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), any major federal action that may significantly affect the environment requires an environmental review. SpaceX has applied for a modification to its existing FAA launch license to:
The FAA’s role is to evaluate potential environmental impacts of those actions—including noise, air quality, wildlife, cultural resources and socioeconomics—and to solicit public and agency comments before issuing a final determination: a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), a Mitigated FONSI, or a Notice of Intent to prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Previous Talk Of Titusville Coverage:
• SpaceX Planning To Build A Landing Zone Near Their Launch Pad At SLC-40
• FAA Posts Draft Environmental Assessment For Increasing SLC-40 to 120 Falcon Launches A Year
• FAA Seeks Public Comment On Increasing Falcon 9 Flights From SLC-40
• FAA Reschedules Public Meeting For SpaceX SLC-40 Environmental Assessment
The FAA’s draft EA and associated notices were published in the Federal Register and in local outlets—including Florida Today and Hometown News as well as here at Talk of Titusville — and hard copies were deposited at area libraries in Brevard County.
The May 8 session was well attended and followed a structured agenda:
Roughly 30 – 40 stakeholders participated live, including local business owners, environmental interests, space industry representatives, and Brevard County officials.
The slide deck presented is available for review here:
Local Residents & Environmental Advocates
In the meeting several speakers raised concerns about:
Industry and Government
Representatives from Space Florida and Brevard County Tourism highlighted the economic benefits:
A SpaceX liaison clarified technical details:
Federal and Military Agencies
An official from Space Launch Delta 45 confirmed the policy shift requiring on‑site landings and noted that without a dedicated LZ at SLC‑40, SpaceX’s ability to support Department of Defense missions could be compromised after current off‑site permits expire in July 2025.
United Launch Alliance
ULA has submitted written comments, mainly concerning operational impacts and disruptions to operations at their adjacent launch pad, and also financial responsibility in the case of any damage caused by SpaceX activities.
You can read ULA’s comments in full here:
Attendees and those who could not join were reminded that all substantive comments, whether verbal tonight, submitted online via Regulations.gov under Docket FAA‑2025‑0114, or mailed to:
Ms. Eva Long
FAA Environmental Specialist, c/o ICF
1902 Reston Metro Plaza
Reston, VA 20190
Submissions must be received or post‑marked by May 15, 2025 to be incorporated into the Final EA.
The outcome of this EA process carries considerable weight for:
1. Launch Cadence Increase
SpaceX seeks to more than double its annual Falcon 9 launches at SLC‑40, from 50 to as many as 120 per year. Also increased are static fires and booster landings based at SLC-40. This uptick supports both government (DOD, NASA) and commercial missions, aligning with national goals for assured access to space.
2. New Landing Zone Construction
Currently, Falcon 9 first stages from Eastern Range missions land on downrange drone ships or at landing zones 1 and 2 (formerly SLC‑13). Space Launch Delta 45 policy now requires commercial boosters to land co‑located with their launch pad. The proposed LZ would occupy about 4 acres adjacent to SLC‑40, clearing approximately 0.25 acres within a 500‑year floodplain and involving installation of gas lines, a pedestal and minimal new disturbance.
3. Related Airspace Closures
The FAA must also authorize temporary airspace restrictions to ensure public safety during launches and landings—another aspect under NEPA review.
The EA examines numerous resource areas:
Overall, the DRAFT EA concluded that neither the Proposed Action nor the No‑Action Alternative would cause individually or cumulatively significant environmental impacts—with recommended mitigation measures to be finalized in coordination with resource agencies.
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