SpaceX starts the day with a boom: two satellites for Maxar launched to orbit from Florida
As the countdown reached zero, the Falcon 9 rocket leaped off the launch pad Thursday, carrying two Earth imaging satellites for Maxar ? a space technology company. As it rose into the sky, the morning sunlight illuminated its vapor trail just before the rocket disappeared out of sight.
Weather was only 70% favorable, as storms lingered offshore, but SpaceX managed to launch on time.
With this launch, the Falcon 9 first stage saw its 16th flight. Past flights include eight Starlink missions, CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, O3b mPOWER, Ovzon 3, Eutelsat 36D, and Turksat 6A.
When is the next Florida launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule from Florida
Eight and a half minutes after liftoff, the first stage landed back at the Cape's Landing Zone 1 ? sounding a sonic boom throughout the Cape Canaveral area which shook windows.
SpaceX launches Maxar imaging satellites
These Maxar satellites are the next two in the company's WorldView Legion series ? the first two satellites were launched from Vandenberg, California, on May 2, 2024. In total, the WorldView Legion series will consist of six satellites. The final two are expected to launch by the end of the year.
These satellites allow for stunning Earth imagery, which can aid in times of natural disaster, show environmental changes, and even human activity. WorldView Legion satellites are capable of showing details right down to architectural designs.
When is the next rocket launch from Florida?
The next launch for the Space Coast is set to be another SpaceX Starlink liftoff on Tuesday, August 20. While SpaceX has yet to confirm, a geospatial navigational warning shows a launch window running from 5:20 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. EDT.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at [email protected] or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral sends off two satellites
