SpaceX knocks out launch from Cape Canaveral

Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel on Jan 6, 2025

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SpaceX sent 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 took off at 3:43 p.m. Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40.

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

It made another 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, now pushed to Wednesday for a Starlink mission from neighboring Kennedy Space Center during a window that opens at 10:24 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 but 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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