Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule from Florida
The record-breaking rocket launch pace on Florida's Space Coast slowed in July amid the Federal Aviation Administration's 16-day grounding of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket fleet.
But after hosting 53 orbital rocket launches during the first seven months of 2024, the home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station should still shatter the annual record of 72 launches.
SpaceX accounted for 49 of those 53 launches through the end of July. United Launch Alliance sent up the other four rockets: the first Vulcan on its Jan. 8 certification mission, the final Delta IV Heavy on April 9 on the NROL-70 mission, the maiden mission of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 5, and the July 30 final launch of an Atlas V on a national security mission.
Following are the latest missions coming up from Cape Canaveral. All launches are listed in Eastern Daylight Time. But be aware: Dates and times are routinely subject to change for a wide variety of reasons.
Cape Canaveral: Rocket launches in Florida: Here's an updating list of all 2024 Space Coast missions
For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at [email protected]. For more space news, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Thursday, September 5: SpaceX Starlink 8-11
Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a batch of 21 Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Launch: 11:33 a.m. (after a Wednesday scrub).
Location: Launch Complex 40.
Trajectory: Northeast.
Local sonic boom: No.
Booster landing: Drone ship out in the Atlantic Ocean.
Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
No earlier than Saturday, September 7: SpaceX Polaris Dawn
Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 will lift Shift4 founder and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman's four-civilian crew on a SpaceX Dragon orbital mission. This mission will see the debut of the SpaceX EVA spacesuit, as well as the first spacewalk by a private crew.
Launch: SpaceX has not announced a new time or date since an unsuccessful Aug. 27 launch attempt. That said, navigational warnings show a potential Saturday launch window opening at 3:33 a.m.
Trajectory: Northeast.
Location: Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.
Live coverage: Starts two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
No earlier than Tuesday, September 24: NASA Crew-9
Mission: Only two of the original crew of four — NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, commander; Nick Hague, pilot; and Stephanie Wilson, mission specialist; along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, mission specialist — will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 to the International Space Station for a science expedition. Then in February, Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will clamber into the SpaceX Dragon's two empty seats and join them for a return trip back to Earth.
Launch: 2:50 p.m.
Location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Live coverage: Starts two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Thursday, October 10: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper
Mission: NASA's Europa Clipper is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to conduct the first detailed investigations of Jupiter's icy moon Europa.
Launch window: TBA.
Location: Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Live coverage: Starts two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
No earlier than Sunday, October 13: Blue Origin New Glenn
Mission: Blue Origin will launch their powerhouse New Glenn rocket on its maiden flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This first launch will send NASA's ESCAPADE mission to Mars.
Launch window: TBA
Location: Launch Complex 36.
Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Rocket launch schedule: August missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida
