SpaceX queues up Monday afternoon launch from Cape Canaveral

Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel on Jan 6, 2025

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ORLANDO, Fla. — SpaceX is set to send up the second launch of the year from the Space Coast on Monday afternoon.

A Falcon 9 carrying 24 of the company’s Starlink internet satellites is set for liftoff during a three-hour launch window that opens at 12:21 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40. A backup window on Tuesday opens at 11:18 a.m.

The first-stage booster is making its 17th flight, having previously launched the Crew-5 human spaceflight and 15 other missions.

It’s aiming for a recovery landing downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX has another launch window approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for what would be its third of the year on Tuesday for a Starlink mission from neighboring Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday during a four-hour window that opens at 10:51 a.m., although SpaceX has yet to confirm that attempt.

The FAA and Space Force have also approved a window for Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket attempting what would be its first flight from Canaveral Space Launch Complex 36 early Friday targeting the opening of a three-hour launch window that runs from 1-4 a.m., although the Blue Origin has yet to announce a target launch date.

SpaceX flew all buy five of the 93 launches from either KSC or Cape Canaveral in 2024, a number expected to grow in 2025.

Elon Musk’s company had 134 orbital flights of its Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy rockets including missions from California last year as well as four test flights of its in-development Starship and Super Heavy from Texas.

Musk said 2025 could bring more than 150 Falcon flights while Starship test flights will continue as well. The next Starship launch is lined up for this month.

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