Florida’s Space Coast hosted a whopping 48 space rocket launches in the first six months of this year. The question: Will the home of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station break the 100-launch barrier by Dec. 31?
By comparison, last year saw a record 72 launches into space, setting a new annual record, but one that appears to be short-lived.
This year, SpaceX was responsible for 45 of the first 48 launches from the Space Coast through the end of June. United Launch Alliance sent the other three rockets into space: 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 spacecraft on June 5.
Below are the latest missions to launch from Cape Canaveral. All launches are listed in Eastern Daylight Time. Please note that dates and times may change frequently for various reasons.
Cape Canaveral:Florida rocket launches: Here’s an updated list of all 2024 Space Coast missions
For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. For more space news, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Wednesday, July 3: SpaceX Starlink 8-9
While SpaceX has not publicly confirmed the launch, a 4½-hour Starlink mission window opens early Wednesday morning, according to navigational alerts from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a new batch of internet-bundling Starlink satellites, housed in the canopy atop the 70-meter-long rocket.
- Home window: 02:01 to 06:31 hours
- Place: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Procedure: Northeast.
- Live coverage: Start 90 minutes before departure at floridatoday.com/space.
Monday, July 8: SpaceX Türksat 6A
Although SpaceX has not yet announced this mission, Turkish media and the Space Coast Office of Tourism report that the Türksat 6A satellite will be launched on Monday afternoon.
- Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the first geostationary communications satellite produced in Turkey, the Space Coast Office of Tourism reports.
- Launch: 5:20 PM
- Place: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Live coverage: Start 90 minutes before departure at floridatoday.com/space.
Tuesday, July 30: United Launch Alliance USSF-51
- Mission: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will launch the classified USSF-51 mission for the Space Force’s Space Systems Command.
- Home window: To be announced
- Place: Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Live coverage: Start 90 minutes before departure at floridatoday.com/space.
Early August: SpaceX ISS resupply mission
- Mission: NASA, Northrop Grumman and SpaceX aim to launch the Cygnus spacecraft in early August for a resupply mission to the International Space Station.
- Home window: To be announced
- Place: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Live coverage: Start 90 minutes before departure at floridatoday.com/space.
TBA: SpaceX Polaris Dawn
- Mission: Shift4 founder and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman will once again lead a SpaceX Dragon orbital mission. The mission will debut the SpaceX EVA (extravehicular activity) suit and the first spacewalk by a private company.
- Home window: Will be announced later.
- Place: Will be announced later.
- Live coverage: Start two hours before launch 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 studies of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa.
- Launch: Will be announced later.
- Place: Platform 39A of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
- Live coverage: Start two hours before launch at floridatoday.com/space.
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