Rocket launches during March 2024 by SpaceX and NASA from Cape Canaveral, Florida
In March, nine rockets lifted off from Florida's Space Coast — home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Here's that list of March launches from Cape Canaveral, highlighted by SpaceX's launch of NASA's Crew-8 aboard the spacecraft Dragon Endeavour and the CRS-30 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.
For the latest launch updates and news from the Cape, follow FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team at floridatoday.com/space.
1. NASA's SpaceX Crew-8
After high offshore winds and waves along Dragon Endeavour's flight path prompted crews to postpone two Crew-8 launch attempts, their SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket hurtled off pad 39A at 10:53 p.m. March 3 at KSC.
Crew-8: After successful launch, NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 due to dock early Tuesday with space station
2. SpaceX Starlink 6-41
SpaceX's Starlink 6-41 mission lifted off in a cloak of sea fog at 6:56 p.m. March 4 from Launch Complex 40 at CCSFS.
Starlink 6-41: SpaceX rockets launch Starlink mission from Cape, Sidus Space satellite from California
3. SpaceX Starlink 6-43
Kicking off a Florida-California SpaceX launch doubleheader, a Falcon 9 rocket vaulted off the pad at 7:05 p.m. March 10 on another Starlink satellite mission from Launch Complex 40 at CCSFS.
Starlink 6-43: SpaceX Sunday Starlink liftoff precedes similar launch in Vandenberg, California, by 5 hours
4. SpaceX Starlink 6-44
The twice-scrubbed Starlink 6-44 mission hurtled into the darkness off pad 39A at KSC at 8:21 p.m. March 15, deploying another payload of 23 broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit.
Starlink 6-44: SpaceX finally launches Falcon 9 Friday night after transporter erector woes, two scrubs
5. NASA's SpaceX CRS-30
A SpaceX Falcon 9 carried a SpaceX Dragon capsule loaded with more than 6,000 pounds of cargo at 4:55 p.m. March 22 from Launch Complex 40 at CCSFS en route to rendezvous with the International Space Station.
CRS-30: SpaceX Dragon soars under sunny skies Thursday to dock with International Space Station
6. SpaceX Starlink 6-42
After a series of storm cells packing lightning swept past the Cape — triggering a three-hour, 40-minute launch delay — SpaceX finally launched a Falcon 9 rocket near the tail end of the mission's launch window at 11:09 p.m. March 23 from KSC pad 39A.
Starlink 6-42: SpaceX waits out storms, launches Falcon 9 on Starlink mission Saturday night from KSC
7. SpaceX Starlink 6-46
From Cocoa Beach, spectators briefly watched the orange glow of a SpaceX Falcon 9 soaring skyward near sundown for roughly 15 seconds before the rocket slipped behind layers of low-lying clouds after the 7:42 p.m. March 25 dusk liftoff from Launch Complex 40 at CCSFS.
Starlink 6-46: SpaceX Falcon 9 breaks through low clouds Monday on mission to deploy Starlink satellites
8. SpaceX Eutelsat 36D
SpaceX kicked off a spring break doubleheader with the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Eutelsat 36D telecommunications satellite from KSC's pad 39A at 5:52 p.m. March 30. The weather was perfect, and crowds gathered to watch the first of two planned launches.
Eutelsat 36D: SpaceX Falcon 9 double-header launch treats Space Coast over Spring Break
9. SpaceX Starlink 6-45
Three hours and 38 minutes after the Eutelsat 36D launch, SpaceX sent another batch of Starlink satellites into orbit with a launch from CCSFS Launch Complex 40 at 9:30 p.m. March 30.
Starlink 6-45: SpaceX Falcon 9 double-header launch treats Space Coast over Spring Break
For the latest launch updates and news from the Cape, follow FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team at visit floridatoday.com/space.
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
Florida's Space Coast is the home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, where a record-breaking 72 orbital launches took flight last year.
After 13 rockets lifted off through the end of February, officials have projected the 2024 total could reach an unprecedented 111 launches — led by SpaceX. The company's Starlink internet-satellite constellation missions comprise the bulk of the Cape's launch total.
Following are the latest missions coming up from Cape Canaveral. All launches are listed in Eastern Daylight Time. Be aware: Dates and times are routinely subject to change for a variety of reasons.
For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at [email protected]. For more space news, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Monday, April 8: ULA Delta IV Heavy final launch
Mission: United Launch Alliance's last Delta IV Heavy triple-core rocket will launch on the NROL-70 national security mission.
Launch: TBD — after a Thursday scrub due to an issue with a ground pump on a gaseous nitrogen pipeline. The Federal Aviation Administration is holding space for a possible launch at 12:57 p.m April 8 but nothing has been confirmed by ULA.
Trajectory: Due east.
Location: Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Local sonic boom: No.
Booster landing: None.
Live coverage: Starts two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Early May: NASA’s Boeing Starliner crewed flight test
Mission: NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will fly aboard a Boeing Starliner spacecraft and a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station.
Launch: TBA.
Location: Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Rocket launch list: March 2024 missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida
