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What you should know before taking off from the Cape

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It's a SpaceX Veterans Day double launch, with two Falcon 9 rockets scheduled to launch this afternoon!

Welcome to the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team's live coverage of today's two SpaceX missions from NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

First, SpaceX launched the Koreasat-6A telecommunications satellite at 12:22 p.m. EST from Pad 39A at KSC. The rocket's first stage booster triggered sonic booms across central Florida as it returned to land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Now, at 4:02 p.m., SpaceX crews will again attempt to launch the Starlink 6-69 mission from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. That mission was aborted Sunday evening due to poor booster recovery conditions in the Atlantic Ocean, SpaceX reported.

The Falcon 9 will deploy 24 Starlink internet satellites housed in the fairing on the 230-foot rocket. There should be no sonic booms after this launch. Rather, the booster is scheduled to land at sea aboard a SpaceX drone ship 8 minutes and 17 seconds after launch.

The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predicted a 70% chance of favorable weather for the Koreasat-6A mission, rising to 80% for the Starlink launch.

When SpaceX's live webcasts begin about five minutes before the Starlink launch, look for them to be posted under the countdown clock.

Rocket photography: FLORIDA TODAY's 2025 space launch calendar is here

Update 12:30 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first stage booster has just landed in Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, completing its 23rd mission.

Update 12:22 p.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9, carrying the Koreasat-6A telecommunications satellite from KSC into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

Update 12:13 p.m.: This mission marks the 23rd flight of the Falcon 9 first stage, SpaceX reported.

The well-traveled launch vehicle previously launched the CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, O3B mPOWER, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Marah Putih 2, Galileo L13 and 12 Starlink missions.

Update 12:09 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast is now posted above, just below our countdown clock.

The start is planned in 13 minutes from KSC.

Update 12:01 p.m.: Here's a behind-the-scenes look at SpaceX's upcoming countdown timeline. T-minus:

  • 16 minutes: Loading with liquid oxygen of the second stage begins.
  • 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine cooling before launch.
  • 1 minute: The command flight computer begins final checks before takeoff; Pressurization of the fuel tank to flight pressure begins.
  • 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director confirms launch is possible.
  • 3 seconds: The engine control commands the start of the engine ignition sequence.
  • 0 seconds: Lift up.

Update 11:54 a.m.: Visual indications indicate that Falcon 9 refueling operations are currently underway at KSC.

This means that the countdown for the Koreasat-6A mission is now set and the launch can take place at 12:22 without any delays, otherwise the launch will have to be postponed.

Update 11:40 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch support team ahead of SpaceX's upcoming launch of Koreasat-6A.

Update 11:33 a.m.: According to this National Weather Service radar loop from the Melbourne Orlando International Airport station, Florida's east coast appears to be free of significant cloud cover from St. Augustine to Fort Lauderdale.

Update 11:19 a.m.: SpaceX has pushed back its scheduled launch time to 12:22 p.m

Update 11:05 a.m.: SpaceX is now planning the morning launch of the Starlink 6-68 mission from the Cape Canaveral space station on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.

The 4½-hour launch window extends from 6 a.m. to 10:31 a.m., according to an advisory to the Federal Aviation Administration's operating plan.

Update 10:50 a.m.: Officials at the KSC Visitor Complex opened a viewing area for the Koreasat-6A launch 20 minutes ago on the tourist attraction's Atlantis North Lawn, offering spectators a vantage point 6.7 miles from the launch site.

“The Koreasat 6A spacecraft, built by Thales Alenia Space, will have 20 transponders for fixed satellite services and six for television broadcasts, replacing the Koreasat 6 launched in 2010,” the KSC Visitor Complex website says.

“Koreasat 6A will be based on the manufacturer's Spacebus 4000B2 platform and is expected to weigh around 3.5 tons at launch. It is designed to last at least 15 years,” the website says.

Update 10:38 a.m.: The 45th Weather Squadron today called cumulus clouds the biggest threat to SpaceX's Koreasat-6A mission.

“By Monday, this (high-pressure system off the East Coast) will have advanced well into the Atlantic Ocean and a trailing ridge should be located directly north of the spaceport,” the squadron's forecast said.

“This pattern is expected to open the door for a low point to move from the tropics into the local region, bringing the possibility of showers and isolated thunderstorms during the primary launch window,” the forecast said.

For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Rick Neale is a space reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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