Florida’s Space Coast has hosted 48 orbital rocket launches in the first six months of this year. The question is: Will the region, home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Station, break the 100-launch barrier by Dec. 31?
By comparison, last year saw 72 orbital rocket launches, a new record, setting a new annual record — and one that looks set to be short-lived.
This year, SpaceX has been responsible for 45 of the first 48 Space Coast launches through the end of June. United Launch Alliance has launched the other three rockets: the first Vulcan on its certification mission on Jan. 8, the last Delta IV Heavy on April 9 on the NROL-70 mission, and the first mission of Boeing’s Starliner on June 5.
Below are the latest missions from Cape Canaveral. All launches are listed in Eastern Daylight Time. Note: Dates and times are subject to change routinely for a variety of reasons.
Cape Canaveral:Florida Rocket Launches: Here’s an Updated List of All Space Coast Missions for 2024
For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY space reporter Rick Neale at [email protected]. For more space news, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Wednesday, July 3: SpaceX Starlink 8-9
Although SpaceX has not publicly confirmed the launch, another 4 1/2-hour Starlink mission window opens early Wednesday morning, according to navigational advisories from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration.
- a task: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is set to deploy another batch of Starlink internet satellites, which are packed inside the rocket’s 230-foot-tall top cover.
- Launch window: 2:01 AM to 6:31 AM
- location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Station.
- a path: Northeast.
- Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before takeoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Monday, July 8: SpaceX Turksat 6A
Although SpaceX has not yet announced the mission, Turkish media and the Space Coast Tourism Office reported that the Turksat 6A satellite will launch on Monday afternoon.
- a task: Turkey’s first domestically produced communications satellite will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the Space Coast Tourism Office said.
- launch: 5:20 PM
- location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Station.
- Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before takeoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Tuesday, July 30: United Launch Alliance USSF-51
- a task: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch the classified USSF-51 mission for the Space Force’s Space Systems Command.
- Launch window: It will be announced later.
- location: Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Station.
- Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before takeoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Early August: SpaceX ISS resupply mission
- a task: NASA, Northrop Grumman and SpaceX plan to launch a Cygnus spacecraft in early August on a resupply mission to the International Space Station.
- Launch window: It will be announced later.
- location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Station.
- Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before takeoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Coming Soon: SpaceX Polaris Dawn
- a taskShift4 founder and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman will once again lead an orbital mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. This mission will feature the debut of the SpaceX EVA (Extravehicular Activity) suit, as well as the first spacewalk by a private company.
- Launch window: To be announced later.
- location: To be announced later.
- Live coverage: Starts 2 hours before takeoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Thursday, October 10: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper
- a task: NASA’s Europa Clipper is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to conduct the first detailed investigations of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa.
- launch: To be announced later.
- location: Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
- Live coverage: Starts 2 hours before takeoff at floridatoday.com/space.
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