Timelapse of Falcon 9 lofting Starlink 6-81 from Cape Canaveral on November 5 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
On a rare night when two different companies were set to launch hours apart from adjacent launch pads, SpaceX launched Starlink 6-81 from Space Launch Complex 40 at 8:31 pm ET. Falcon 9 flew on a southeasterly trajectory, and completed a trouble-free mission that saw the company deploy another 29 Starlink satellites into the megaconstellation now in low Earth Orbit.
Next up was United Launch Alliance, with the venerable Atlas V on the pad at Space Launch Complex 41. It was set to lift off at 10:24 pm ET, but it was not to be. Everything looked fine until it didn’t, and despite the effort of ULA engineers to solve an issue with a sticky valve, the launch was “Scrubbed […] due to an issue encountered while cycling the booster liquid oxygen tank vent valve during final checkouts.”
ULA added in a statement to the press that “The team will require additional time for troubleshooting and is setting up for a 24-hour recycle.
“The launch is now planned for Thursday Nov. 6th at 10:16 p.m. ET at the opening of a 44-minute window.”
SpaceX Payload
Tonight’s payload for Falcon 9 was 29 Starlink satellites that will now join the other Starlink satellites from Group 6 in the Starlink constellation.
That array of satellites provides Internet connectivity globally to over seven million customers in over 125 countries and territories, spanning all seven continents.
SpaceX Launch Replay
Next Launch
Atlas V 551 | ViaSat-3 F2 (ViaSat-3 EMEA)
Organization
United Launch Alliance
Location
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket
Atlas V 551
Pad
Space Launch Complex 41
Status
Go for Launch
Status Info
Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens
Thursday, 11 / 06 / 2025 10:16 PM
Window Closes
Thursday, 11 / 06 / 2025 11:00 PM
Destination
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Mission Description
The ViaSat-3 is a series of three Ka-band satellites expected to provide very high service speed and flexibility; each ViaSat-3 class satellite targets >1 Tbps of network capacity and can dynamically direct capacity to where customers are located.
As of 12:00 AM Thursday November 6, 2025. Launch assignments and times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult
ULA.com for updates.
Atlas V ViaSat 3 on the launch mount at SLC-41 Wednesday, November 5, 2025 Photo’: Charles Boyer, Talk of TitusvilleLiftoff of Starlink 6-81 from SLC-40 on November 5, 2025 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
United Launch Alliance provided this photo of Viasat 3 being stacked for launch in Cape Canaveral.
United Launch Alliance is set to fly their last commercial payload on an Atlas V (* other than Project Kuiper) this week from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The payload is ViaSat-3 — or VS-3 F2 in ViaSat parlance — is a telecommunications satellite that the company expects to more than double the bandwidth capacity of their entire existing fleet. The launch is currently scheduled for 10:24 PM EST on Wednesday, November 5th.
Spaceport Canaveral Is Quite Busy
SpaceX also has a Starlink launch scheduled for Wednesday, but will likely yield the Eastern Range to ULA for their launch if ULA is ready to proceed. Stay tuned — it sounds like Wednesday will have a rocket launch of some kind, whether it be a Falcon 9 or an Atlas V.
Meanwhile, south of ULA and SpaceX’s launch complexes, Blue Origin continues to prepare New Glenn for its planned launch next week. It’s hard to recall a time when this many different rockets from different companies are all heading to the pad to launch in the space of only a few days.
At A Glance
Atlas V 551 | ViaSat-3 F2 (ViaSat-3 EMEA)
Organization
United Launch Alliance
Location
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket
Atlas V 551
Pad
Space Launch Complex 41
Status
Go for Launch
Status Info
Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens
Wednesday, 11 / 05 / 2025 10:24 PM
Window Closes
Wednesday, 11 / 05 / 2025 11:08 PM
Destination
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Mission Description
The ViaSat-3 is a series of three Ka-band satellites expected to deliver >1 Tbps of network capacity with flexible, dynamically directed service to where customers are located.
As of 10:30 AM ET Monday November 3, 2025. Launch assignments and times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult
ULA for updates.
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 has released their official Launch Mission Execution Forecast: 95% GO throughout the launch window:
Trajectory
The target orbit for the ViaSat-3 mission is believed to be ~11,700 × 23,600 km, with an inclination of ~6.0 °. After payload separation, the satellite will move to its final operational position in a sun-synchronous orbit under its own power.
Launch Viewing: In Person
Given that this is a launch from Cape Canaveral’s SLC-41, Jetty Park, The Banana River Bridge and southern Titusville Parks are your best bets.
Cocoa Beach and the northern Titusville parks will have an excellent view as well.
For official updates regarding launch times, the ULA mission page is the best source of information: ViaSat-3 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.
Speaking of streaming, if possible, watch one of the YouTube streams for the latest/greatest information. Things change pretty fast as the countdown heads towards zero, and the dulcet tones of Will Robinson-Smith on Spaceflight Now or the announcers on ULA’s live stream will keep you up to date.
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.
Best Public Viewing Spots for SpaceX Launches from SLC-40 (Cape Canaveral)
A “nebula” of gases from Booster B1091 is illuminated by the plume of the departing second stage during last night’s launch. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX launched the Bandwagon-4 mission aboard Falcon 9 this morning in a beautiful launch that flew into mostly cloudy skies. Liftoff was at the first 01:09:59 AM of the night; daylight savings time ended less than an hour after the launch and it was 1am all over again.
At the Booster B1091 put on an incredible display after staging as it turned to return to Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral. Shortly after touching down at the T+07:46 mark, a familiar pair of sonic booms washed over the Space Coast, heralding the return of the booster while Stage 2 continued on to orbit. It and the payload of some eighteen assorted satellites achieved that orbit at T+09:38 after liftoff.
Liftoff of Bandwagon 4 on November 2, 2025. Photo: SpaceX
Orbit is estimated to be ~510 × 510 km (± 20 km), at a 45º ±1º mid-inclination Low Earth Orbit.
At 1:28 AM EST, SpaceX confirmed the deployment of all payloads, indicating another successful mission for the company. This was SpaceX’s 585th mission overall, its 145th mission of 2025 and the 558th Falcon 9 mission to date.
Links are included only where publicly available official pages exist; unnamed Exolaunch customers currently have no public payload pages.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
Atlas V 551 | ViaSat-3 F2 (ViaSat-3 EMEA)
Organization
United Launch Alliance
Location
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket
Atlas V 551
Pad
Space Launch Complex 41
Status
Go for Launch
Status Info
Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens
Wednesday, 11 / 05 / 2025 10:24 PM
Window Closes
Wednesday, 11 / 05 / 2025 11:08 PM
Destination
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Mission Description
The ViaSat-3 is a series of three Ka-band satellites expected to deliver >1 Tbps of network capacity with flexible, dynamically directed service to where customers are located.
As of 4:58 PM Sunday November 2, 2025. Launch assignments and times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult
ULA for updates.
Booster Landing Planned for LZ-2, Expect a Sonic Boom Around 1:15 AM ET
SpaceX is set to launch Bandwagon 4 tonight from SLC-40 in Cape Canaveral around 1:09 AM EDT. The window is short, only three minutes. B1091 will be returning to Cape Canaveral and Landing Zone 2 after the Main Engine Cutoff and booster separation. As such, anticipate a sonic boom to reverberate across the Space Coast shortly afterward.
*Times cross a U.S. daylight saving transition on Sunday, Nov 2, 2025; 1:00–1:03 AM local can map to either 05:00–05:03 UTC (EDT) or 06:00–06:03 UTC (EST).
As of Saturday November 1, 2025, 10:06 AM. Launch assignments and times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult
SpaceX.com for updates.
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force’s Space Delta 45 has released their Launch Mission Execution Forecast for tonight’s launch attempt: 95% GO.
Trajectory
Southeastward, with Booster B1091 returning to Cape Canaveral. The planned orbit is ~510 x ~510 km (approx. 317 x 317 miles), ~45 degrees inclination.
Payload
There are 18 known payloads aboard tonight’s mission, with the keystone customer being the South Korean Defense “425 Project.”
Links are included only where publicly available official pages exist; unnamed Exolaunch customers currently have no public payload pages.
Launch Viewing: In Person
As always, if you plan to watch the launch in person, arrive early and settle in at your chosen location. It’s going to a late night by most standards, so be sure to bring a jacket and a flashlight.
Follow the latest launch information on Spaceflight Now’s coverage, as well as SpaceX’s X.com feed and website.
Launch times can and do change quickly, especially when weather is a concern.
Finally, keep in mind that streaming coverage on YouTube or the X platform runs slightly behind the actual countdown — usually about 5-10 seconds. That’s simple physics – it takes some time for the signal to go through the Internet and the servers hosting it. The Next Spaceflight app displays the real countdown, so it is a good choice in the last few minutes.
Best Public Viewing Spots for SpaceX Launches from SLC-40 (Cape Canaveral)
Rooftop bar at Courtyard by Marriott with launch views; seating fills quickly. official hours.
Note: Distances are approximate straight-line measures. Access, hours, fees, security zones, and closures change by mission—verify on launch day.
Launch Viewing: Online
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Bandwagon-4. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about five 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.
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.
Starlink 10-37 rising today as seen from Cocoa Beach. Don’t be fooled by the apparent indifference of the people in this shot, both the Cocoa Beach and the Jetty Park Piers were packed and many on the beach itself were watching the launch. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX launched their 143rd mission of 2025 this afternoon from Cape Canaveral when the company sent the Starlink 10-37 mission to low Earth orbit aboard Falcon 9. Liftoff was at 12:35 PM EDT.
Falcon 9 rising. Photo: Charles Boyer.
Booster B1083 was on duty today, completing its 15th mission when it touched down safely aboard ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’ downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. Booster and barge will now return to Port Canaveral, where the booster will be offloaded and transported to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center, where it will be refurbished and prepared for its next mission.
Close to Main Engine Cutoff and staging, Falcon 9 begins to pitch up for the staging maneuver that shortly followed. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
At 1:41 PM ET, SpaceX announced payload deployment, marking the end of yet another successful mission for the company. This was the 556th overall for SpaceX.
Payload
Today’s payload was 29 Starlink satellites that will now join the other Starlink satellites from Group 10 in the Starlink constellation.
That array of satellites provides Internet connectivity globally to over seven million customers in over 125 countries and territories, spanning all seven continents.
As of 1:52 PM Wednesday October 29, 2025. Launch assignments and times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for updates.
Call it a Tourist’s Special: SpaceX will be launching Falcon 9 on another Starlink mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station tomorrow, weather and technicals permitting. UPDATE: Liftoff is now slated for 12:16 PM ET. That’s perfect for visitors as the launch is scheduled to be at a friendly hour for someone with young children in tow.
The payload will be 29 additional Starlink V2 Mini satellites, which will join the Starlink constellation and provide Internet connectivity for over seven million customers worldwide once they are operational.
As of 3:11 PM Tuesday October 28, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time.
Consult SpaceX.com for more information.
Weather
Weather looks good, albeit with the potential of winds at ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’ being an area of concern:
Trajectory
Northeast, on the same path that other Starlink Group 10 launches have flown.
Launch Viewing: In Person
As always, if you plan to watch the launch in person, arrive early and settle in at your chosen location.
Follow the latest launch information on Spaceflight Now’s coverage, as well as SpaceX’s X.com feed and website.
Launch times can and do change quickly, especially when weather is a concern.
Finally, keep in mind that streaming coverage on YouTube or the X platform runs slightly behind the actual countdown — usually about 5-10 seconds. That’s simple physics – it takes some time for the signal to go through the Internet and the servers hosting it. The Next Spaceflight app displays the real countdown, so it is a good choice in the last few minutes.
It does not appear that the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center has any tickets on offer for this launch. Consult their website to be sure.
Playalinda and the rest of Cape Canaveral National Seashore is still closed because of the federal shutdown.
Best Public Viewing Spots for SpaceX Launches from SLC-40 (Cape Canaveral)
Rooftop bar at Courtyard by Marriott with launch views; seating fills quickly. Hours vary—see official hours.
Note: Distances are approximate straight-line measures. Access, hours, fees, security zones, and closures change by mission—verify on launch day.
Launch Viewing: Online
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 10-37. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about five 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.
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.
Falcon 9 and Starlink 10-21 rise as a fine sea mist hugs the wind-beaten surface of the Banana River today. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
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.
Falcon 9 carrying Starlink 10-21 rises into Florida skies on its way to orbit this morning. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Launch Replay
Next Launch
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.
File photo of a typical Falcon 9 Starlink launch from SLC-40. Photo: Charles Boyer
SpaceX is planning to launch a Falcon 9 carrying 28 Starlink Mini V2 satellites to orbit tomorrow morning fron Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 10:02 AM ET and closes four hours later at 2:02 PM the same day.
This will 24th flight for B1077, the fourth most flown active booster in SpaceX’s Falcon fleet:
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
December 21, 2024
Starlink Group 7-17
B1077
23 flights
July 8, 2025
Starlink Group 10-04
B1078
23 flights
September 12, 2024
Starlink Group 7-12
As of 12:18 PM Saturday October 25, 2025. Booster flight histories and mission names are based on the latest
verified data and are subject to change as new launches occur.
Consult SpaceX.com or
RocketLaunch.Live for the most current information.
Weather looks…okay…but the odds are in SpaceX’s favor throughout the launch window. For spectators, temperatures around 80ºF with a 40-50% chance of precipitation and winds around 15 MPH are expected. That’s a decent day here down at the coast and it should be a pleasant day.
At A Glance
Details
Mission
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10-21 — 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
Sunday, 10/26/2025 10:05 AM
Window Closes
Sunday, 10/26/2025 2:05 PM
Destination
Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description
A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation — SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.
Broadcast Start Time
Coverage typically begins ~15 minutes before launch.
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.
Trajectory
Northeast.
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 has released its Launch Mission Execution Forecast for the flight and says the weather criteria should be 85% GO at the start of the launch window, with chances dropping to 70% GO by the time the launch window closes.
Launch Viewing: In Person
Best Public Viewing Spots for SpaceX Launches from SLC-40 (Cape Canaveral)
Rooftop bar at Courtyard by Marriott with launch views; seating fills quickly. Hours vary—see official hours.
Note: Distances are approximate straight-line measures. Access, hours, fees, security zones, and closures change by mission—verify on launch day.
The best options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1.
The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.
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.
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 10-21. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about five 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.
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.
Astrobotic has announced that its Griffin-1 lunar mission is now targeting July 2026, a shift that gives engineers time to complete propulsion integration and qualify the lander’s engines. Their update, published today, also outlines steady progress on systems from tanks to software as the company prepares to deliver multiple payloads to the Moon’s south-polar Nobile region.
With this news, any chance of a Falcon Heavy launch from Kennedy Space Center in 2025 is now kaput.
Status
Astrobotic said that Griffin-1’s structural build is “nearing full integration,” with pressure tanks, ramps, attitude-control thrusters and solar arrays completing fit checks. The company says each completed milestone narrows the gap to launch and the attempted precision landing at Nobile.
The stakes are significant for the Pittsburgh-based firm after Peregrine Mission One failed to reach the Moon last year due to a propellant leak and later burned up on reentry, an outcome that the company says sharpened their focus on ground testing and flight-like rehearsals ahead of Griffin-1.
Today’s schedule update marks the clearest timing guide since mid-2025, when NASA’s CLPS page last summarized the mission.
Above: Astrobotic staff examine a propulsion tank sitting in front of Griffin-1’s structure. Photo: AstroboticThe Nobile Crater region of the lunar south pole. Visualization: NASA
Astrobotic also reports its flight avionics are assembled and accepted for flight, and a “closed-loop” landing rehearsal is running on the ground. Using the company’s LunaRay software to generate real-time images and 3D point-clouds of the terrain, the testbed feeds data into Griffin’s Terrain Relative Navigation and Hazard Detection & Avoidance algorithms—critical for an autonomous touchdown in a place where GPS doesn’t exist.
About Griffin-1
Griffin-1 is Astrobotic’s follow-on to the failed Peregrine demo and is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) line of deliveries supporting Artemis-era science at the south pole. NASA previously confirmed that after the VIPER rover was canceled in 2024, the Griffin task order would continue as a lander and engine flight demonstration on a reconfigured manifest—an approach that today’s update effectively advances toward with engine qualification now underway.
The lander’s propulsion system is built around four composite-overwrapped propellant tanks, designed to stay lightweight while holding high-pressure loads. With the tank installs and remaining harness work finished, Griffin will move into environmental acceptance tests—vibration, thermal vacuum and other checks—to certify the vehicle for launch and lunar operations.
The payload manifest remains anchored by Venturi Astrolab’s FLIP (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform) rover, which is deep into thermal-vac and integrated functional tests; Astrobotic’s own CubeRover; and BEACON rover (the Benchmark for Engineering and Autonomous Capabilities in Operations and Navigation — a joint lunar surface demonstration from Mission Control and Astrobotic), which has already completed end-to-end “flatsat” simulations with the lander. Secondary cargo now in house includes a Nippon Travel Agency plaque carrying messages from Japanese schoolchildren, a Nanofiche “Galactic Library to Preserve Humanity,” and a sealed MoonBox capsule with items from around the world.
File photo of Booster B1076 in flight. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX is set to launch Falcon 9 and the SpainSat NH II satellite for Spanish operator hisdeSat this evening. Liftoff is currently slated for 9:30 PM ET (0130Z) with a four hour window. Weather is not expected to pose a problem.
Stripped of legs and hypersonic fins, expect the rocket to look slightly different from normal. That’s because the mission tonight is somewhat unusual, as Booster B1076 will make its 22nd and final flight due to operational requirements — the mission demands are such that it will take every bit of push from the booster to set up Falcon Stage 2 to achieve its desired orbital placement. The last time SpaceX deliberately sent a Falcon 9 booster to a watery grave was in January of this year, when they lofted the SpainSat NG I payload.
At A Glance
Details
Mission
Falcon 9 Block 5 | SpainSat NG II — Go for Launch!
Organization
SpaceX
Customer / Payload Provider
Hisdesat / Airbus Defence & Space
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
Thursday, 10/23/2025 9:30 PM
Window Closes
Friday, 10/24/2025 1:30 AM
Destination
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Mission Description
Second of two new-generation satellites built by Airbus to provide secure communications to the Spanish government, its allies, and various international organizations.
As of 7:14 AM Thursday October 23, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult
SpaceX.com for more information.
Trajectory
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron of the Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 has released their Launch Mission Execution Forecast and weather is expected to be just about as good as it gets for a rocket launch: 95% GO.
Payload
SpainSat NG II is the second spacecraft in Spain’s next-generation secure communications system for government and defense, operated by Hisdesat. Built on Airbus’s Eurostar Neo geostationary platform, it carries a tri-band payload—military X-, Ka-, and UHF—that enables resilient, encrypted links for Spain and partner nations. Airbus (Spain/France) leads the platform and X-band payload, while Thales Alenia Space (Spain/France) provides the military Ka- and UHF-band payloads and integrates the communications module.
SpainSat NG series rendering. Via: Airbus
The satellite’s payload is designed for flexibility: active X-band antennas with in-orbit reconfiguration, an onboard digital processor that can cross-connect X and Ka services, and a high-speed service link to retask beams rapidly. It’s engineered with advanced anti-jamming features and capabilities to geolocate interference sources—key for contested environments—while providing coverage spanning roughly two-thirds of the Earth from geostationary orbit.
Program-wise, NG II follows SpainSat NG I (launched Jan. 30, 2025) to complete the two-satellite constellation that replaces the legacy SpainSat and XTAR-EUR systems. The pair are stationed at 30° W (NG II) and 29° E (NG I) with a design life on the order of 15 years, and both rideshare Falcon 9 launches to geostationary transfer orbit. Together, they multiply Spain’s protected X/Ka capacity versus earlier satellites while adding a new UHF payload for broader mission flexibility.
Launch Viewing: In Person
Since the launch is after hours at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center, Banana Creek, or the LC-39A Gantry won’t be available. Playalinda would be closed anyway were it not for the government shutdown, so that will not be an option either.
The view at night from Kennedy Point Park: SpaceX Kuiper KF-03 timelapse, October 13, 2025 Photo: Charles Boyer
The best free options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets.
The Space Bar will be open at least in the first part of the launch window. Restaurants in Port Canaveral should be open for the initial hour or two of the launch window as well, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood. All have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.
The best free options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets.
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: SpainSat NG II. 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.
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