Space Coast Archives - Page 11 of 34

May 9, 2025

FAA Holds Online Public Meeting For SpaceX SLC-40 EA

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.

Background

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:

Increase the number of Falcon 9 launches at SLC‑40 from 50 to up to 120 per year.
Construct and operate a new first‑stage landing zone (LZ) at SLC‑40 capable of supporting up to 34 booster landings annually. This new landing zone would replace the current areas at LC-13 at CCSFS, Landing Zone 1 and Landing Zone 2, which SpaceX has subleased while Vaya Space and also Phantom Space work towards their first launches on that site.

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

Draft EA Publication and Public Review Timeline

Draft EA Issued: March 14, 2025.
Original Public Comment Deadline: April 24, 2025.
First Virtual Meeting Scheduled: April 16, 2025
Rescheduled Virtual Meeting: May 8, 2025, 6:00–8:00 p.m. ET.
Extended Comment Deadline: May 15, 2025.

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.

SLC-40 Draft EA 91711 Download

The Virtual Public Meeting

The May 8 session was well attended and followed a structured agenda:

Opening Presentation by FAA facilitators, explaining NEPA, project scope, analysis methods and opportunities to comment.
Instructions for Commenting—attendees could provide verbal comments (recorded by a court reporter), or learn how to submit online via Regulations.gov (Docket FAA‑2025‑0114) or by mail to Ms. Eva Long at the FAA’s Reston address (address listed below)
Verbal comment session, with speakers called in the order of registration or hand-raising. Ground rules limited comments to three minutes each and reminded participants about public disclosure of any personal identifying information in their statements.

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:

92766 Presentation Download

Stakeholder Perspectives Shared

Local Residents & Environmental Advocates

In the meeting several speakers raised concerns about:

Noise impacts on nearby residential areas in Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island, requesting more analysis on cumulative effects of increased booster landings.
Marine life, particularly sea turtles and manatees, urging stronger mitigation—such as seasonal scheduling to avoid nesting periods.
Floodplain disturbance, questioning why alternative site footprints were not more fully evaluated.

Industry and Government
Representatives from Space Florida and Brevard County Tourism highlighted the economic benefits:

Workforce growth: Increased launch activity sustains skilled aerospace jobs locally.
Tourism draw: More frequent launches could bolster space‑coast viewing tourism.

A SpaceX liaison clarified technical details:

The new LZ design minimizes environmental footprint by using existing cleared areas and established utility corridors.
Noise modeling showed booster landing sonic booms are low‑intensity and would fall well within the thresholds for no hearing or structural damage beyond base boundaries.

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:

FAA-2025-0114-0012_attachment_1 Download

Have Your Say: How to Submit Additional Comments

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.

Next Steps and Timeline

May 15, 2025: Close of public comment period.
Summer 2025: FAA reviews all comments, works with resource agencies on mitigation commitments, and prepares the Final EA.
Late 2025 (estimated): FAA issues either a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or determines that a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required.
Post‑FONSI: If approved, SpaceX would apply for the license modification and move into detailed design and construction of the landing zone, subject to any mitigation conditions outlined in the FONSI.

Significance for the Space Coast

The outcome of this EA process carries considerable weight for:

Commercial spaceflight growth on the Eastern Range, as SpaceX remains the primary launch provider at SLC‑40.
Local economy, with potential for sustained or expanded aerospace employment, supply‑chain activity, and tourism revenue.
Environmental stewardship, given Florida’s sensitive coastal ecosystems and flood‑prone terrain.

Key Elements of the Proposed Action

Page 17 of the FAA’s May 9 presentation (link above).

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.

Overview of Environmental Analyses

The EA examines numerous resource areas:

Noise: Time‑averaged sound from launches and static fire tests remains below FAA significance thresholds (65 dB A‑weighted Day‑Night sound level) beyond CCSFS and KSC boundaries. Sonic booms from standard trajectories occur over water; polar trajectory booms are not increasing above previously analyzed levels.
Air Quality & Emissions: Construction emissions and operational propellant burn were modeled using EPA‑approved methods and found to be minor.
Biological Resources: Consultations under the Endangered Species Act with USFWS and NMFS identified no new significant impacts to listed species; sonic boom impacts on critical habitat remain within prior assessed levels.
Cultural & Historic Resources: Section 106 coordination with the Florida State Historic Preservation Office and Tribal governments confirmed no adverse effects beyond already cleared conditions.
Floodplains & Wetlands: The limited encroachment into the floodplain triggered an explicit Finding of No Practicable Alternative (FONPA) under Executive Orders on floodplain management.
Socioeconomics & Land Use: Potential benefits include local job support for increased operations; land use changes remain confined within federal property.

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.

May 5, 2025

Local News Coverage of Alan Shepard’s Flight On May 5, 1961

Liftoff of Mercury-Redstone 3, with Alan Shepard aboard, May 5, 1961

Sixty-four years ago, the United States launched its first human being aboard a rocket. It was a tense time politically, and space flight was the new political football of the Cold War. The country’s pride had been injured by the Soviet Union’s accomplishing space feats before the US, but that day — May 5, 1961 — it was a day that restored pride and confidence in America’s capabilities as a nation. And it all happened here, of course, on the Space Coast.

Tales have been told uncounted times of the flight from Alan Shepard and top NASA officials’ points of view. But what about the locals? How did they see this flight? Talk of Titusville dug back into the local evening newspapers of the time, The Cocoa Tribune and the Orlando Evening Star.

Stories in both newspapers spoke of how nearly everyone in Cocoa, Titusville and all the beaches more or less stopped what they were doing to watch the launch ascending from its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base. AM Radio was the preferred way to keep up with events for those watching in person, and the local stations were all too happy to provide moment by moment coverage.

Doug Dederer, One Of The First Local Reporters Covering Space

Newspaperman Doug Dederer set the scene for his coverage, which would be published the same day in the Cocoa Tribune. “Bobbing in a small craft a few hundred yards offshore myself and my companions waited patiently for the countdown to reach zero, Dederer began. “Our only communications were local radio stations who, at minus ten minutes, gave a running description of activities as reported at the press site.”

“I watched the missile belch smoke and flame in its tail. It appeared to hover over the pad, then steadily the pulsing engines, gulping tons of fuel and liquid oxygen in seconds, lifted the Mercury spaceraft higher and higher.””

“At launch,” Dederer said, “The tremendous surge of feeling, compounded by thousands of written words, hundreds of interviews and a score of months knowing this and the other astronauts burst loose.”

“Tears flowed unashemedly and I didn’t care,” he stated bluntly.

Those feelings have been repeated many, many times since then, probably with every crewed launch that has flown from the Cape. In a time when crewed launches seem routine, they never are and there is always someone who is seeing it all unfold for the first time. Tears of happiness flowed that day, and they will again, as soon as the next crewed launch.

Mercury Redstone 3 in flight.
Photo: NASA

Dederer’s vision cleared in time for him to note, “The sea was surprisingly calm after the week’s stormy weather and one could easily read “United States” on the 83-foot long rocket.”

“The Redstone arched slighly on the east-northeast heading over the coastline and over our seaborne position,” Dederer said. “It passed overhead at 4,000 feet bathed in the brilliance of a new sun and a new era in American spacemanship.”

It may be safe to venture a guess that watching that liftoff made bobbing on the water offshore from Cape Canaveral worthwhile.

Dederer went on to write for Today, now Florida Today. He also ran his own publication, the Surfside Slant, in Cocoa Beach. Sadly, he passed away in 1985 at the age of 58.

The Orlando Evening Star from May 5, 1961 was far more effusive in its coverage of Alan Shepard’s first flight

Back onshore and across the rivers in Cocoa, business had come to a standstill to watch the liftoff. The Tribune reported that “Employees – and bosses — of businesses suspended operation when radions reported the final countdown began to conquer their excitement and return to the normal routine of their daily lives.”

The Tribune further reported “crowds of people” gathered along the Indian River to watch, though it was not clear exactly where on the river that was. Today, launches from the Cape are best seen from southern Titusville or from the beaches of the Banana River and Cape Canaveral, and back then couldn’t have been any different.

One thing was clear, however: something truly historical and extraordinary had happened that day in 1961, and those who were there to see it in person realized that from the start.

Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 capsule is being picked up after its landing in the Atlantic Ocean.
Photo: NASA

Perhaps the Orlando Evening Star put things best in its coverage from the day: “True, the Russians’ Yuri beat him to it but that erases no of the glory from Alan Shepard. And his fellow countrymen are no less proud.”

Simple by today’s standard, the Mercury capsule worked well for the first US forays into crewed spaceflight.
via NASA

April 29, 2025

Launch Report: ULA Launches Atlas V – Kuiper KA-01

Summer is nearly back on the Space Coast, with warm temperatures and a persistent threat of rain in the afternoon and evenings — typical weather here, and it will stay this way for several months. That being said, Atlas V was able to beat the weather last night and launched at the opening of its window, with liftoff at 7:01 PM ET after an apparently quiet countdown, save for some concerns about the energy potential of a nearby anvil cloud (Cumulonimbus incus) lingering near the launch pad before dissipating.

The launch carried 27 Amazon Kuiper satellites to orbit. These were the first operational units of Amazon’s planned Internet service constellation, which is planned to feature some 3,236 units when fully built out.

For more information about Project Kuiper, click here.

Atlas V was outfitted in its 551 configuration, meaning it had five GEM 63 solid rockets strapped onto the booster for additional lift. It also had a five-meter fairing, the largest used on the venerable member of ULA’s stable. Tory Bruno, CEO of ULA, calls this setup “The Bruiser” and that’s an apt name: it’s a big rocket and has a lot of power. Good thing, because yesterday, Atlas V carried the most weight to orbit in 155 missions so far.

Atlas V Kuiper KA-01 in flight
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

The launch was nominal, as was the flight to orbit. At 7:18 Tory Bruno announced on X.com that the payload was in orbit, and later, after deployment, Project Kuiper posted that it had established communications with all 27 Kuiper satellites. With that, the mission was a full success.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-75 Mission Details

Mission	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| Starlink Group 6-75
Organization	SpaceX
Location	Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket	Falcon 9 Block 5
Pad	Space Launch Complex 40
Status	To Be Confirmed
Status Info	Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty.
Window Opens	Wednesday, 04/30/2025 10:17:00 PM EDT
Window Closes	Thursday, 05/01/2025 2:48:00 AM EDT
Destination	Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description	A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.

Please note that the launch window times are provided in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

For the most current information regarding the launch schedule and status, please refer to official updates from SpaceX.com

Atlas V’s ascent path was illustrated clearly by a plume trail from the rocket’s SRBs
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

April 28, 2025

United Launch Alliance Set For Second Atlas V Kuiper KA-01 Launch Attempt

United Launch Alliance is set to launch and Atlas V 551 this evening from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 7:00 PM ET and closes again at 9:00 PM the same day.

This will be ULA’s first launch this year. The company is winding down Atlas V launches, with only fifteen remaining, tonight’s launch included. ULA also recently retired Delta IV Heavy, and launched the last one a year ago today. The company is moving towards its Vulcan rocket, which it has launched twice. Vulcan recently received USSL certification for its new Vulcan rocket, which is now awaiting payloads prior to its next flight.

As is customary with Atlas V, all stages are expendable, so there will be no landing and retrieval of the booster. After its job is done for the day, it will crash into the ocean and sleep with the fishes.

For More Coverage of Amazon Kuiper Project, click here.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Delta 45 has posted their Launch Mission Execution Forecast, and they are rating the chances of a weather violation at 25% on Monday, April 28, with chances dropping drastically to only a 10% chance of weather being an issue on Tuesday, April, 29th.

Trajectory

Northeast. Depending on when Atlas V launches, it may put on quite a show. Local sunset is 7:45 PM ET, so if the launch is at the opening of the window, we will see a beautiful sunset launch. If it is delayed an hour, the sun will have set on the ground, but Civil Twilight last until 8:09 PM and that means that Atlas V’s plumes will still be in sunlight up high. It might be interesting, but forecasting a jellyfish plume is tricky.

What Is Project Kuiper?

Similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, Project Kuiper is Amazon’s initiative to provide global broadband access through a constellation of over 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Announced in 2019, the project’s goal is to deliver fast, affordable internet connectivity to unserved and underserved communities worldwide. Like Starlink, by leveraging LEO satellites, Project Kuiper aims to provide low-latency broadband services to a diverse range of customers, including individual households, schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies.

ready on the launch mount at SLC-41.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk Of Titusville — Atlas V, with Kuiper K-01, stands at the ready on the launch mount at SLC-41. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk Of Titusville

To achieve this, Amazon plans to deploy some 3,236 satellites at altitudes ranging from 590 to 630 kilometers. The company has secured agreements for up to 83 launches over a five-year period, utilizing various launch providers such as Arianespace’s Ariane 6, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, and United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V and later, Vulcan Centaur.

Launch Viewing: Online

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch times, United Launch Alliance’s website is the best source of information. 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.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The southern viewing spots are the best for this launch, but none are particularly close except for Playalinda Beach. Problem is, Playalinda closes at 8PM, so unless the launch is right on time, it won’t be an option.

The best free options are available for spectators: 528 West at the Banana River Bridge, Jetty Park and Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral. Southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenu / US-1 are also good: Kennedy Point and Rotary Riverfront Park are your best bets.

Local recommendations also say the Cafe Paradiso and Ven pa’ Ca Café are excellent choices for before, after and even during launches. Grab a bite to eat, walk over to the Indian River and watch the launch.

April 24, 2025

FAA Reschedules Public Meeting For SpaceX SLC-40 Environmental Assessment

The FAA has announced that the public meeting for the SpaceX SLC-40 Enviromental Assessment that was originally scheduled for April 16th has been rescheduled to May 8, 2025. The original meeting was postponed due to a nationwide Zoom outage on that date earlier this month. Additionally, the public comment period has also been extended to May 15th.

For a summary and links to all original documents, please click here:

FAA Posts Draft Environmental Assessment For Increasing SLC-40 to 120 Falcon Launches A Year

Official Announcement

The FAA previously issued a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing SpaceX’s proposal to increase Falcon 9 operations from 50 up to 120 per year from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The draft EA also reviews the construction of a first-stage booster landing zone at the site with up to 34 landings per year.

Due to technical difficulties associated with the nationwide Zoom platform outage, the virtual public meeting scheduled for April 16, 2025, was cancelled. The new meeting date is scheduled for May 8, 2025. In addition, the public comment period is extended and will close on May 15, 2025.

Registration is required to join the virtual public meeting. Those who registered for the cancelled meeting must re-register.

For registration, meeting and other details, click here: https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/SpaceX_Falcon_SLC_40_EA

Talk of Titusville strongly encourages all interested parties to attend the virtual session as well as filing a written comment at the links above.

Anyone interested in attending the virtual session must register in advance. If you signed up for the cancelled event, you’ll need to register again.

For details on how to register, attend the meeting, or submit comments, visit: https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/SpaceX_Falcon_SLC_40_EA

April 22, 2025

Launch Report: SpaceX Completes Second RTLS Launch On The Same Day

Timelapse of SpaceX Falcon 9 Bandwagon 3 flight. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Summer thunderstorms have yet to arrive on the Space Coast this year, but there were rumbles and roars a-plenty yesterday on the Eastern Range. First, in the wee hours, SpaceX launched CRS-32 from KSC, and its booster landed at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Then, after sunset, the company completed another RTLS Falcon 9 launch, this time from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was at 8:48 PM ET.

Eight minutes and seven seconds after liftoff, Booster B1090 completed its third flight successfully at Landing Zone 2 on the site of the former Launch Complex 13.

Payloads

Among the payloads that were launched last night were some interesting spacecraft:

425Sat-3: Enhancing South Korea’s Reconnaissance Capabilities

425Sat-3, as part of the 425 Project, was among the payloads lofted by Bandwagon-3. This initiative aims to establish a constellation of five satellites—four equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and one with Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors—to bolster surveillance over North Korea. T

The SAR satellites, developed by a consortium including Korean Aerospace Industries, Hanwha Systems, and Thales Alenia Space, provide all-weather, day-and-night imaging capabilities. Once fully operational, the constellation will enable monitoring of the Korean Peninsula at two-hour intervals, enhancing South Korea’s independent intelligence-gathering capacity, a vital national interest item.

Tomorrow-S7: Advancing Hyperlocal Weather Forecasting

Tomorrow-S7, launched by Tomorrow.io, represents a significant step in commercial weather observation. As part of a planned 30-satellite constellation, Tomorrow-S7 is equipped with advanced radar and microwave sounder instruments designed to deliver precise, hyperlocal weather data. This satellite aims to improve forecasting accuracy for both commercial and governmental applications, particularly in regions lacking comprehensive weather monitoring infrastructure.

PHOENIX-1: Testing Innovative Reentry Technology

PHOENIX-1, developed by Germany’s Atmos Space Cargo, is a prototype reentry capsule launched to test new technologies for returning cargo from Low Earth Orbit. The capsule features an inflatable heat shield, which deploys during reentry to slow the spacecraft without the need for parachutes.

During its mission, PHOENIX-1 carried four payloads, including biological and technological experiments. The data collected will inform the development of future reusable cargo return systems, with the goal of providing efficient and cost-effective solutions for transporting materials from space.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Lather, rinse, repeat. It may as well be SpaceX’s corporate motto, because they launch so regularly, especially in regards to their Starlink constellation. The company plans to launch another set of satellites for Group 6 NET Thursday, April 24, 2025:

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-74 Mission Details

Mission	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| Starlink Group 6-74
Organization	SpaceX
Location	Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket	Falcon 9 Block 5
Pad	Space Launch Complex 40
Status	To Be Confirmed
Status Info	Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty.
Window Opens	Thursday, 04/24/2025 9:32:00 PM EDT
Window Closes	Friday, 04/25/2025 2:39:00 AM EDT
Destination	Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description	A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.

April 21, 2025

Launch Report: SpaceX and NASA Launch CRS-2 SpX-32 (CRS-32)

Falcon 9 lifts off at 04:15 AM, April 21, 2025 to start the CRS-32 mission to ISS.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX and NASA launched the CRS-32 mission early Monday morning from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. After an apparently event-free countdown, liftoff was at 04:15:34 AM ET. About 7.5 minutes after liftoff, the booster used for the flight returned to land at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Shortly after reaching its initial orbit Cargo Dragon successfully separated from its launch vehicle and is now targeted to dock at the International Space Station on Tuesday, April 22, around 8:20 AM. ET.

Payload

According to NASA, slightly less than 6,700 pounds of cargo have been sent to ISS-NL. Hardware, supplies and science make up the bulk of the payload sent on it way earlier today.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Spectators and Space Coast residents won’t have to wait long for the next launch and also the next RTLS (Return To Launch Site) mission: tonight (Monday, April 21) SpaceX is planning to launch the Bandwagon 3 mission from Cape Canaveral.

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Bandwagon-3 Mission Details

Mission	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| Bandwagon-3
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	Monday, 04/21/2025 8:43:00 PM EDT
Window Closes	Monday, 04/21/2025 9:23:00 PM EDT
Destination	Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description	Dedicated rideshare flight to a mid-inclination orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers. The mission includes payloads such as the PHOENIX re-entry capsule, 425Sat-3, and Tomorrow-S7. The Falcon 9 first stage booster B1090 will be making its third flight and is scheduled to land back at Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. A sonic boom is likely to occur a few minutes after launch as the booster returns to the launch site. Be prepared for a loud but thrilling experience!

Falcon 9 launch — Through the mangroves, the flight of Falcon 9 as a timelapse.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

After separating from the second stage, Falcon 9’s booster put on a show.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

April 20, 2025

Einstein’s Theory of Relativity To Be Tested By ACES Device Launching On CRS-32

Overnight tonight, SpaceX and NASA will launch Falcon 9 with a Cargo Dragon bound for the International Space Station. Along with the foodstuffs and normal cargo aboard CRS-32, there are also some thirty experiments that astronauts will conduct aboard the ISS-NL orbiting outpost. One of them will test Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.

April 18, 2025

CRS-2 SpX-32 (CRS-32) Set To Launch Monday Morning

NASA and SpaceX are set to launch the 32nd Commercial Resupply mission to the International Space Station from Kennedy Space Center on Monday. Launch time is set for 04:15:34 AM Monday morning in an instantaneous window.

The flight Falcon 9’s first stage will land a few miles south at Landing Zone 1 in Cape Canaveral about 7-8 minutes after liftoff. That being said, a sonic boom will rattle the Space Coast area not long after the rumble of the liftoff fades.

This mission marks the 12th under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services-2 (CRS-2) contract with SpaceX.

SpaceX CRS-32 Mission Details

Mission	SpaceX CRS-32
Organization	SpaceX
Location	Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Rocket	Falcon 9
Pad	Launch Complex 39A
Status	Go for Launch
Status Info	Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens	Monday, 04/21/2025 4:15:34 AM EDT
Window Closes	Monday, 04/21/2025 4:15:34 AM EDT
Destination	Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description	The 32nd Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station operated by SpaceX. This flight, conducted under NASA’s CRS-2 contract, will deliver approximately 6,700 pounds of supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support science and research investigations onboard the orbiting laboratory. Notable experiments include studies on nanomaterial production, drug manufacturing advancements, and novel materials for aerospace, defense, energy, and robotics. The Cargo Dragon spacecraft, C209, is scheduled to autonomously dock to the station’s Harmony module and remain for about one month before returning to Earth with research and hardware for analysis.

Weather Forecast

Weather forecasts for Cape Canaveral on Monday indicate mostly cloudy conditions with a high of 81°F (27°C) and a low of 68°F (20°C). These conditions are generally favorable for a successful launch.

Jimmy Taeger, a Launch Weather Officer of the 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 said today that “Weather is looking really good for early next week. There’s a small chance of a cumulus cloud rule violation.”

“[That chance is] only about 10% for the primary launch day and the backup day, but that means 90% chance that the weather could be good,” Taeger concluded.

Trajectory

Online Viewing

NASA_ will have a livestream of the launch on their website and on YouTube: CRS-32 Launch. 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.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The best options for watching the launch: Northern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets: Space View Park, Sands Park, Rotary Riverfront Park.

The best options for watching the landing: beaches Cherie Down Park or 528W at the Banana River Bridge.

April 16, 2025

Zoom Outage Forces FAA Public Meeting Cancelation

The FAA has announced that the public meeting set for tonight that was to discuss draft results of an Environmental Assessment concerning Space Launch Complex 40 has been canceled.

Due to the nationwide Zoom outage, the April 16, 2025, SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Environmental Assessment in Cape Canaveral, Florida virtual public meeting is cancelled. The meeting will be rescheduled.

Additional information will be provided on the project website soon:

https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/SpaceX_Falcon_SLC_40_EA

Thank you,

The FAA SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations at SLC-40 Project Team

At the time of this writing (6:15PM April 16) Zoom is operating sporadically and had a widespread national outage of about two hours today. Given that the service is likely still recovering from the interruption, it seems a prudent course to make sure everyone who would like to attend the meeting may do so.

The meeting concerned plans for the relocation of landing zones for Falcon 9 from the current location at SLC-13 to near SLC-40, as well as more than doubling the allowable launch operations at SLC-40 starting in 2026. Up to 34 first-stage booster landings at the new landing zone annually is planned, as well as additional launches and static fires at the launch pad as well.

For More Detail Of SLC-40 Changes: FAA Posts Draft Environmental Assessment For Increasing SLC-40 to 120 Falcon Launches A Year

As the FAA states, the meeting will be rescheduled for a future date.

Talk of Titusville strongly encourages all interested citizens to learn what is planned and to make their voices heard to the FAA and others if they wish to participate in the public comment process. Follow the FAA link above for the latest official information.