#SpaceCoast

ULA Atlas V lifts off, starting the Kuiper KA-03 mission from Cape Canaveral.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

United Launch Alliance launched one of its dwindling supply of Atlas V rockets this morning from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was at 08:09 AM ET into “Chamber of Commerce” blue skies.

After today’s mission, there are only eleven Atlas V vehicles remaining, with six devoted to Boeing’s Starliner program, four for Project Kuiper, and one for a Viasat mission.

Today’s payload was 27 operational broadband satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation, bringing the total number of satellites launched by ULA to 81, with more to come later. Atlas V flew true and delivered the satellites to orbit exactly as planned.

The view of liftoff of Atlas V from Loop Road on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

The Atlas V 551 rocket, used for this launch, is among ULA’s more powerful configurations. It includes five solid rocket boosters and a medium payload fairing. The mission is part of a deployment strategy that includes multiple launch providers and vehicle types, including upcoming launches on ULA’s Vulcan Centaur, SpaceX Falcon 9, and the European Ariane 6.

ULA said today that their next launch is ViaSat-3, planned to launch from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. No launch date was given.

Payload

The Kuiper project is Amazon’s initiative to provide broadband internet service through a constellation of satellites. Today’s launch is the fifth of a series of launches of operational Kuiper satellites that aim to meet the conditions set by the Federal Communications Commission, which require half of the planned 3,236 satellites to be in orbit by mid-2026. The full network is expected to be completed by mid-2029, with rudimentary service set to start as soon as late this year.

Following deployment this morning, the satellites will elevate their initial orbit of approximately 450 kilometers to an operational altitude of around 630 kilometers. From this position, they will begin supporting future broadband service coverage as part of Amazon’s long-term strategy to enter the satellite internet market.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10-59 — Go for Launch!
Organization SpaceX
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, 09/28/2025 3:30 AM
Window Closes Sunday, 09/28/2025 7:30 AM
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation — SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

As of 12:46 PM Thursday September 25, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

Atlas V in flight on September 25, 2025
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
ULA Atlas V lifts off, starting the Kuiper KA-03 mission from Cape Canaveral.
Photo: Chris Leymarie, FMN
Photo: Chris Leymarie, FMN
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Falcon 9 and the IMAP Rideshare mission lifting off at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center just after dawn on September 24, 2025
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX and NASA launched the IMAP Rideshare mission early Wednesday morning from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. After an apparently event-free countdown, liftoff was at 07:30 AM ET.

The flight appeared to be nominal, and Falcon 9 entered into a parking orbit around eight minutes after liftoff. The rocket and payload are now in a coast phase prior to to payload deployment, after which the three scientific satellites carried to orbit this morning will make their own way to the Lagrange 1 point, about one million miles from the Earth in the direction of the Sun.

Falcon 9 created a vapor cone that wrapped the entire booster today
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

About 7.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1096 touched down safely downrange aboard ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions.’ Both barge and booster will now return to Port Canaveral, after which the booster will be offloaded and transported to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center, where it will be inspected, refurbished as necessary and prepared for its next mission.

Payload

Three space weather satellites were launched this morning: the NASA IMAP, Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and the NOAA) Space Weather Follow On – Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) instruments.

IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) is designed to study the boundary of the heliosphere, a bubble-like region of space dominated by the solar wind. Positioned about one million miles from Earth at the L1 Lagrange point, IMAP will capture and analyze particles that stream into the solar system from interstellar space. Its goal is to map how the solar wind interacts with the interstellar medium, shedding light on how cosmic rays are filtered and how the heliosphere protects our solar system from galactic radiation.

SWFO (Space Weather Follow-On) is a NOAA satellite mission focused on monitoring solar activity that could impact Earth’s space environment. Scheduled to launch alongside IMAP, SWFO will also be stationed at L1, where it will provide continuous data on solar wind, magnetic fields, and solar energetic particles. Its primary purpose is to support real-time space weather forecasting, helping to protect satellites, power grids, GPS, and other technologies from solar storms and other space weather events.

Carruthers Geocorona Observatory is a NASA mission named after astrophysicist George Carruthers, aimed at studying the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere—the geocorona. This layer of hydrogen extends thousands of miles into space, and Carruthers will observe it in ultraviolet light to understand how Earth’s atmosphere escapes into space and interacts with solar radiation. By providing detailed imaging of the geocorona, the probe will help scientists refine models of atmospheric loss, which has implications for both Earth and exoplanet habitability studies. 

Falcon 9 and the IMAP rideshare lifts off from Kennedy Space Center on September 24, 2025.
Another view of liftoff of Falcon 9 and the IMAP Rideshare mission on September 24, 2025
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Next Launch

Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10-15 — Go for Launch!
Organization SpaceX
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, 09/25/2025 4:36 AM
Window Closes Thursday, 09/25/2025 8:36 AM
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation — SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

As of 9:01 AM Wednesday September 24, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

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Falcon 9 ascending
Falcon 9 ascending
File Photo of a Falcon 9 ascending.
Photogrpaher: Charles Boyer

SpaceX is planning to launch the NASA IMAP, Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and the NOAA) Space Weather Follow On – Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellites tomorrow from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. Launch time is set for 07:30:35 in an instantaneous window.

At A Glance

Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | IMAP & others — Go for Launch!
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 Wednesday, 09/24/2025 7:30:35 AM
Window Closes Wednesday, 09/24/2025 7:30:35 AM
Destination Heliocentric L1
Mission Description IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) is a NASA mission to study interactions between solar wind and the local interstellar medium. Carrying a suite of 10 scientific instruments, IMAP is able to investigate how particles are accelerated, determine their composition, as well as help to advance space weather forecasting models.

The IMAP launch also includes the space weather satellite SWFO-L1 (Space Weather Follow-On – L1) for NOAA and the GLIDE (Global Lyman-alpha Imagers of the Dynamic Exosphere/Carruthers Geocorona Observatory) mission to study far ultraviolet emission in the Earth’s exosphere.

As of 6:44 PM Tuesday September 23, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 released their latest Launch Mission Execution Forecast today calling for 90+ GO conditions at liftoff.

Trajectory

Estimated Trajectories: Stage 1, yellow; Stage 2, white.

Online Viewing

SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: IMAP 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, NASA+ and SpaceX.com are the best sources of information.

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 free options are available for spectators: Northern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1, For example, Space View Park, Sands Park, Rotary Riverfront Park.

Playalinda Beach will be open, but call ahead and go early. Playalinda Beach generally opens at 6 AM ET this time of year, and that is only 90 minutes before liftoff. Call ahead if you are planning to go: 386-428-3384.

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.

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The fully assembled Carruthers Geocorona Observatory at AstroTech in Titusville earlier this month.
The fully assembled Carruthers Geocorona Observatory at AstroTech in Titusville earlier this month.
\The fully assembled Carruthers Geocorona Observatory at AstroTech in Titusville earlier this month. Photo: Charles Boyer

The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory is one of NASA’s newest Earth-facing space weather missions, named in honor of the late George Carruthers, a pioneering astrophysicist who built the first lunar-based telescope as part of the Apollo 16 mission.

George Carruthers, center, in 1971. The telescope he designed was used on the Apollo 16 mission to produce images of the geocorona, Earth’s outermost atmosphere. In this photo, he is explaining the device to astronaut John Young, at right.
Photo: NASA

What Will This Observatory Measure?

The observatory’s mission is to image the geocorona, a vast cloud of hydrogen atoms that extends tens of thousands of miles beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Also called the exosphere, it is invisible to the naked eye. The geocorona’s hydrogen halo interacts with solar radiation and can be measured to monitor how solar activity affects Earth’s environment.

The Carruthers Observatory uses ultraviolet (UV) imaging to observe how the geocorona responds to solar emissions, particularly during solar storms. By watching the movement and intensity of hydrogen glow in the far-UV spectrum, scientists can get early indicators of incoming disturbances from the Sun.

“Carruthers gives us a front-row seat to the very edge of Earth’s atmospheric bubble,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “It’s a critical piece in understanding how Earth responds to solar energy.”

Heading To L1

After launch, the telescope will travel to the L1, or the first Lagrange Point, which is relatively near the Earth — about one million miles away. L1 is the point of gravitational equilibrium between the Earth and the Sun, and that region provides a stable position for small objects to reside while using a minimum amount of fuel to remain there. Several scientific payloads, such as the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) also reside in the region.

Lagrange-1, or L1, lays about a million miles from Earth in the direction of the Sun. This is about four times the distance from Earth to Moon. Graphic adapted from a NOAA original.

Carruthers will be able to directly measure the size of Earth’s geocorona for the first time. The first Carruthers telescope landed on the moon, too close to see the geocorona in its entirety. That said, this mission will enable scientists to measure the size of Earth’s atmosphere for the first time.

The spacecraft is part of the IMAP Rideshare mission, which will launch tomorrow Wednesday.

Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | IMAP & others — Go for Launch!
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 Wednesday, 09/24/2025 7:30:35 AM
Window Closes Wednesday, 09/24/2025 7:30:35 AM
Destination Heliocentric L1
Mission Description IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) is a NASA mission to study interactions between solar wind and the local interstellar medium. Carrying a suite of 10 scientific instruments, IMAP is able to investigate how particles are accelerated, determine their composition, as well as help to advance space weather forecasting models.

The IMAP launch also includes the space weather satellite SWFO-L1 (Space Weather Follow-On – L1) for NOAA and the GLIDE (Global Lyman-alpha Imagers of the Dynamic Exosphere/Carruthers Geocorona Observatory) mission to study far ultraviolet emission in the Earth’s exosphere.

As of 12:22 PM Monday September 22, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

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Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for Updates to Airspace Closures for Additional Launch Trajectories and Starship Boca Chica Landings of the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Vehicle at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas September 2025

SpaceX has proposed new launch trajectories for Starship Superheavy flights launching from Boca Chica, Texas. One new corridor is on a path taking it west of Cuba and northeast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The other will be far more controversial: directly over the Florida peninsula.

The Document

You can view or download the document below:

20250919_Draft-Tiered-EA-for-Additional-Trajectories-and-Starship-RTLS_508Download

Air Operations

Rocket launches are, of course, high-risk operations. If a rocket fails in flight, debris can fall to the ground in an uncontrolled manner, potentially damaging property and causing injuries.

Starship Flight 7 after it broke apart at near-orbital velocities.

SpaceX has thus far done a spectacular job in terms of public safety, but at the same time, the chances of a vehicle failure at the wrong time are never nil.

Another effect is an interruption to air operations:

Integrating the Florida overflight Starship-Super Heavy launch operations and Super Heavy booster landings into the NAS from Boca Chica would require the FAA to conduct ground stops commensurate with the timing of the AHA and the miles in trail (distance between aircraft) for spacing and volume control as well as rerouting aircraft around the AHA. Due to the length of the launch and Super Heavy booster landing AHAs, certain flights, especially international, may elect to delay the departure time due to the inability to accept a reroute caused by fuel constraints or the flight time of the reroute.

According to the NAS assessment, the average expected flight delay for launches would last approximately 40 minutes and could last up to two hours. General aviation operations would be similarly impacted by the launch and Super Heavy booster landing AHAs; however, general aviation operations typically have more flexibility for flight planning than commercial flights, due to the nature of connecting commercial flights.

The FAA

In many travel scenarios, making connections at a hub destination like Atlanta, Charlotte and other is already challenging and may be all but impossible when there are unpredictable delays in Orlando, Tampa, Miami and other major airports.

No remediations were proposed, despite the costs of ground interruptions and flights being rerouted would create for airlines and ultimately, the fare-paying public who would ultimately bear the additional costs, not to mention the inconvenience of the time delays.

The FAA’s Conclusion?

The 2022 PEA and April 2025 Tiered EA examined the potential for significant environmental impacts from Starship-Super Heavy launch operations at the Boca Chica Launch Site and defined the regulatory setting for impacts associated with Starship-Super Heavy. The areas evaluated for environmental impacts in this Tiered EA include aviation emissions and air quality; noise and noise-compatible land use; hazardous materials; and socioeconomics. In each of these areas, the FAA has concluded that no significant impacts would occur as a result of the Proposed Action.

The FAA

The FAA will hold a virtual public meeting on the Draft Tiered EA on October 7, 2025 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm ET. You must register to attend, and you will need Zoom as well:

During the virtual public meeting, the FAA will provide a pre-recorded presentation during the first half hour of the public meeting. The public can provide oral comments for up to three minutes during the virtual public meeting.

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Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft awaits its capture by the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm, commanded by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick on Aug. 6, 2024.
Credit: NASA

SpaceX is planning to launch Falcon 9 and the Northrup-Grumman CRS-2 mission towards low Earth orbit and the International Space Station this evening. Shortly afterward, the Space Coast will hear a sonic boom as the booster returns to land at Cape Canaveral.

Launch time is scheduled for 6:11:48 PM ET in an instantaneous window. As is standard for most launches to Station, should weather or technical reasons prevent a launch at the time, SpaceX will be forced to stand down and wait for the next window tomorrow.

Payload

Tonight’s mission will be the Cygnus XL variant of Northrup-Gruman’s cargo delivery spacecraft. The XL is a “stretched” version that offers significantly more cargo volume and payload mass compared to earlier Cygnus versions. Specifically, it increases the cargo-carrying capacity by approximately 1,250 kg (roughly 33%) over the baseline, bringing its total payload capacity to around 5,000 kg (11,000 pounds) of pressurized cargo.

Among the research payloads are experiments for growing semiconductor crystals in microgravity, tools to refine technologies for cryogenic fuel tanks (which are critical for future space missions), and a UV light system designed to limit microbial growth in the station’s water systems. Also aboard are supplies for pharmaceutical crystal development with implications for cancer and other disease treatments. No ice cream this time, we checked and did not see it mentioned in NASA’s manifest.

Weather

Compared to other missions of late, the Launch Mission Execution Forecast from the 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 is almost optimistic: 75% GO at launch time.

Trajectory

Northeast on the well-worn path to ISS:

Streaming Options

NASA will livestream the launch on NASA-TV. Coverage starts about 20-30 minutes before liftoff.

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

Please note that there is a delay between the launch stream and the actual countdown clock if you are watching in person. 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.

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 available online at nextspaceflight.com.

A Falcon booster returning to land at Cape Canaveral
Photo: Charles Boyer

Launch Viewing: In Person

Since the launch is during the early evening, a lot of 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. Jetty Park will have the best view of the booster return, but not as spectacular a view of liftoff. On the other hand, Titusville parks will have the opposite: a great view of liftoff but not as close as Jetty Park for the landing.

Playalinda Beach is several miles north of the launch pad, but ignition and of course the flight of the rocket and its return are visible from that location. If you go, go early in case the crowds are heavy.

Other options include The Space Bar, a rooftop bar at the Courtyard By Marriott in Titusville. It offers great views of the launches and a full bar and menu. Other options include New York, New York on the Indian River in Titusville, but if you want to grab a bite, go early, because their kitchen usually closes for the day around 6:30 PM.

File photo of a Falcon 9 lifting off from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,
Photo: Charles Boyer
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This week, weather has definitely not been SpaceX’s friend. Due to a stalled frontal boundary to the north of the Space Coast, thunderstorms have been nearly continuous for several days, keeping Falcon 9 and the Nusantara Lima mission on the pad waiting for its launch. Tonight, the company plans its third attempt.

At A Glance

Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Nusantara Lima — Go for Launch!
Organization SpaceX
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 Wednesday, 09/10/2025 8:00 PM
Window Closes Wednesday, 09/10/2025 9:55 PM
Destination Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Satellite Operator PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), Indonesia
Mission Description Nusantara Lima is an Indonesian geostationary communications satellite with a capacity of more than 160 Gbps.

As of 12:18 PM Wednesday September 10, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

Weather

Not great, but improving: the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron of Launch Delta 45 is calling for a 40->60% probability of acceptable weather. Essentially, they are saying that weather will improve through the launch window — it will be 40% at 8:00pm and by the end of the window that will increase to 60%.

Of course, that’s just a forecast, and the launch probabilities will be calculated continuously through the launch window until Falcon 9 lifts off or SpaceX calls off the launch.

Trajectory

Launch Viewing: In Person

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 through the launch window. 

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, 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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File photo of a Falcon 9 launching from SLC-40 in 2024.
Photo: Charles Boyer

A final environmental assessment approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clears the path for SpaceX to build and operate a Falcon 9 rocket landing zone at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

NOTE: this is not either one of the two Starship EA currently underway for the Eastern Range.

The assessment also supports an increase in the number of annual Falcon 9 launches from SLC-40, raising the cap from 50 to 120 per year. The FAA’s decision, finalized in August 2025, comes after months of federal coordination, public comment, and technical review.

The document is below, and it can also be downloaded from the FAA website: SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations at Space Launch Complex-40.

Falcon LC40 LZ and Launch Increase EADownload

FAA Approval Enables New Landing Zone, Expanded Launch Schedule

The FAA, acting as the lead federal agency, reviewed SpaceX’s proposal to both increase the number of Falcon 9 launches and construct a 400-foot-diameter concrete landing pad east of the SLC-40 pad. According to the final Environmental Assessment (EA), the FAA concluded that the project would not cause significant adverse environmental impacts.

With this approval, SpaceX may now move forward in seeking:

  • A modification to its current launch license (LLO 18-105),
  • A potential new launch license under 14 CFR Part 450, and
  • Airspace closure approvals for each launch and landing.

The FAA emphasized that environmental clearance does not automatically guarantee license approval but does permit further steps toward that end.

Construction of the new landing zone will occur within a 10-acre lease boundary adjacent to the existing launch site. The landing zone includes a concrete pad, gravel apron, nitrogen gas line, processing pedestal, and associated infrastructure.

Falcon 9 Operations at SLC-40
Figure 2-5. Proposed Landing Zone
Final Environmental Assessment 2-7 August 2025

Environmental Effects

Water & Wetlands

Florida Scrub Jay in MINWR. Photo: Charles Boyer

The final EA identified that the construction and operation of the new landing site will affect several protected habitats and species, notably the Florida scrub-jay and Southeastern beach mouse. In consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a Biological Opinion concluded the project “is not likely to jeopardize” listed species or critical habitats, provided mitigation measures are followed. Those measures include habitat compensation and best management practices during construction.

Noise and Sonic Booms

Noise impacts—especially those resulting from rocket landings—were analyzed in detail. Falcon 9 landings at Cape Canaveral generate sonic booms, but the FAA determined that their frequency and intensity fall within previously analyzed limits. Up to 34 landings annually are expected to take place at the new SLC-40 site. Downrange ocean landings using drone ships will continue for the remainder.

The EA also confirmed that sonic boom pressure levels from the new landing zone would be comparable to existing operations at LZ-1 and LZ-2. Noise levels would be highest during landings but occur infrequently enough that they do not trigger significant regulatory thresholds under federal guidance.

From Appendix B “Final Environmental Assessment Falcon 9 Operations at SLC-40” via the FAA

Public Input

The FAA received more than 4,000 public comments during the review period for the draft EA. Public engagement included virtual meetings, local newspaper notices, and hard copies of the document being distributed to several Brevard County libraries.

According the FAA, most comments expressed support or posed technical questions, with at least one requesting that the FAA produce a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), citing concerns about cumulative effects and development intensity. The FAA opted to finalize the EA instead, citing that the expected impacts did not reach the threshold requiring a more extensive EIS process.

No substantial objections were raised by local municipalities or regulatory agencies. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, for instance, found the project consistent with the Florida Coastal Management Program.

With the EA finalized and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) likely, the next phase will involve regulatory and operational coordination:

  1. FAA Licensing – SpaceX must receive formal approval to modify its current launch license or obtain a new one under updated regulations.
  2. Property Agreement – The Department of the Air Force must execute a real property agreement allowing SpaceX to lease and develop the LZ.
  3. Permitting – SpaceX will need a modified Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) from the state and a stormwater permit under the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
  4. Construction and Testing – Once approved, construction is expected to begin ahead of the LZ-1/2 license expiration in early 2026.
  5. Airspace Coordination – FAA will continue issuing Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), while the Coast Guard will support maritime safety operations during launches and landings.

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starship-flight-10-leymarie
Starship Rising: initial ascent from the Texas coast went exactly as planned.
Photo: Chris Leymarie / Florida Media Now

SpaceX’s Starship took a step closer to Florida when it carried out the tenth test flight of the new launch system yesterday in Texas. The massive Super Heavy–Starship vehicle lifted off from the Starbase facility in South Texas at 7:30 PM ET into partly cloudy skies. That was a pleasant change for both SpaceX and launch spectators, as yesterday’s attempt was scrubbed in the last minute due to janky weather and the risk of rocket induced lightning.

A Good Flight

Despite a Raptor engine shutting down during ascent, the booster’s descent trajectory was controlled, and it splashed down as planned in the Gulf of Mexico with no issues, despite a test regimen designed to further define the envelope within which the vehicle can operate successfully.

The upper stage, Ship, achieved its designed suborbital attitude with few if any visible problems, where it deployed eight Starlink simulator satellites using a new dispenser mechanism, executed an in‑space Raptor engine relight, and descended under control to splash down in the Indian Ocean.

During descent, there was one issue: structural damage occurred to its aft heat shield and engine skirt during the vehicle’s descent, but to its credit, Starship remained on course until splashdown. Undoubtedly, SpaceX engineers are analyzing that event closely with an eye to future improvements on future iterations of Starship.

This mission diverged from a string of setbacks in 2025 for the Starship program. Flight 7 ended with the upper stage lost mid‑flight, as did Flight 8. Flight 9 failed to deploy its payload and lost control during reentry. In contrast, Flight 10 executed its key procedures with relatively minor damage, signaling forward progress in the program’s development and its eventual deployment here in Florida on the Atlantic Range.

Questions

While Flight 10 was successful, some issues arose during the flight, with one potentially being a serious issue that required a great deal of Starship’s resilience to overcome. Fortunately, Ship continued

Three items that were obvious to viewers of the flight jump out:

First, why did the skirt of Ship fail as it did in the video above?

Via SpaceX livestream

This photo shows two questions in one: first, what is the rust color where the thermal protection tiles are? Second, why is Ship’s nosecose white?

SpaceX engineers are no doubt poring over the flight data received from Flight 10, look at every aspect of vehicle performance during its mission.

Hearings Underway

Meanwhile, here on the Space Coast, the FAA public meetings regarding the Environmental Impact Statement for Starship at LC-39A are continuing tomorrow.

  • Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025; two meetings: 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. ET at the Radisson Conference Center, Grande Caribbean, 8701 Astronaut Boulevard, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
  • Virtually on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025; 6-8 p.m. ET

Talk of Titusville urges all interested Space Coast residents to attend and make their voices heard — no matter how you feel about Starship launching from The Cape.

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CRS-33 launches aboard Falcon 9
Falcon 9 lifts off from SLC-40 and starts the CRS-2 SpX33 mission in Cape Canaveral last night.
Photo: SpaceX

SpaceX launched Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral overnight, sending supplies to the International Space Station aboard Cargo Dragon. Liftoff was at 02:45 AM ET into partly cloudy skies.

Tonight’s launch was the seventh for Booster 1090, which landed safely aboard ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ some eight minutes and forty seconds after liftoff. ‘ASOG’ will now return to Port Canaveral, where the booster will be unloaded and transported to SpaceX’s Hangar X for inspection, refurbishment and preparation for its next mission.

At T+08:47, Cargo Dragon achieved its initial orbit, and less than a minute later, it separated from Falcon 9’s second stage and began to make its way to the International Space Station, where it is expected to dock tomorrow morning.

Cargo

Food, supplies, hardware and new scientific experiments make up the bulk of the cargo being carried to ISS. For more specifcs, consult our Launch Preview article.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Details
Mission Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10-11 — Go for Launch!
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 Wednesday, 08/27/2025 1:49 AM
Window Closes Wednesday, 08/27/2025 5:49 AM
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation — SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

As of 1:39 PM Sunday August 24, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

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