Updates: SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy, Falcon 9 Starlink missions from Cape Canaveral

Rick Neale, Florida Today
Updated ·9 min read
3

Updates:  Scroll down for live coverage of the Dec. 28 SpaceX back-to-back liftoffs of a Falcon Heavy rocket and a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.

Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live coverage of tonight’s SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch — followed by a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch less than three hours later.

Earlier, SpaceX launched a Falcon Heavy rocket at 8:07 p.m. EST from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center on the USSF-52 national security mission, lifting the Space Force's X-37B robotic space plane into orbit for its seventh secretive mission.

The Falcon Heavy’s twin side boosters generated sonic booms by descending and touching down at SpaceX’s Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Next, at 11:01 p.m., SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit. That second launch will occur from Launch Complex 40 at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

No local sonic booms are expected during that mission. Instead, the Falcon 9's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a drone ship out at sea.

Countdown Timer

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands

Update 11:10 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean, completing its 12th mission.

Another liftoff!

Update 11:01 p.m.: Tonight's doubleheader is in the books. SpaceX has just launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX live launch webcast begins

Update 10:56 p.m.: SpaceX's live launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted at the top of this page.

Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX booster to land on drone ship

Update 10:45 p.m.: Unlike during tonight's Falcon Heavy mission, this Falcon 9 first-stage booster will not generate a sonic boom audible on the Space Coast.

Instead, after stage separation, the booster is slated to land on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 26 seconds after liftoff.

This will mark the 12th flight for the first-stage booster, which previously launched CRS-24, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, OneWeb 1, SES-18 and SES-19 and seven Starlink missions, SpaceX reported.

Tuesday afternoon, the wreckage of a different SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster that tipped over atop the drone ship Just Read the Instructions returned to Port Canaveral following a Christmas mishap at sea.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling is now underway

Update 10:26 p.m.: Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40.

That means tonight's Starlink 6-36 mission is now committed to lift off at 11:01 p.m., or else the launch must be postponed.

"All systems and weather are currently go for launch," SpaceX officials announced via tweet.

SpaceX Falcon 9 launch countdown

Update 10:20 p.m.: Following is a list of key milestones in tonight's upcoming Falcon 9 countdown timeline:

  • 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

  • 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

  • 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.

  • 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.

  • 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.

  • 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.

  • 0 seconds: Falcon 9 liftoff.

Check out our Falcon Heavy photo gallery

Update 10 p.m.: For a collection of images from this evening's SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch, check out FLORIDA TODAY's photo gallery.

Memorable Falcon Heavy moon image

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket flies across the face of the moon after its 8:07 p.m. liftoff from Kennedy Space Center.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket flies across the face of the moon after its 8:07 p.m. liftoff from Kennedy Space Center.

Update 9:43 p.m.: FLORIDA TODAY Photojournalist Craig Bailey captured this spectacular image of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy ascending in front of the moon during this evening's launch.

SpaceX still targeting 11:01 p.m. Starlink launch

Update 9:09 p.m.: SpaceX is still aiming for an 11:01 p.m. Falcon 9 liftoff, according to its online launch schedule.

Accordingly, we have reset our countdown clock for this second mission of the evening.

SpaceX Falcon Heavy boosters land

Update 8:15 p.m.: Both Falcon Heavy boosters just touched down at SpaceX’s Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Liftoff!

Update 8:07 p.m.: Liftoff! A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket just launched from Kennedy Space Center, carrying the Space Force's secretive X-37B space plane into orbit on another classified national security mission.

SpaceX live launch webcast begins

Update 7:53 p.m. EST: SpaceX's live launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted at the top of this page.

Falcon Heavy boosters to create sonic booms

Crowds on the beach in Cape Canaveral watch a SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster land on Oct. 13 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station about eight minutes after launch.
Crowds on the beach in Cape Canaveral watch a SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster land on Oct. 13 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station about eight minutes after launch.

Update 7:45 p.m.: At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, hundreds of launch spectators — many with hands jammed into coat pockets to stay warm in 58-degree evening weather — are sitting in metal bleachers at the North Atlantis Lawn viewing area facing NASA Parkway West.

After stage separation, the Falcon Heavy's two side boosters are scheduled to descend and land 8 minutes, 24 seconds after liftoff at SpaceX’s Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, SpaceX reported.

"Now folks, you're going to look at that and say, 'That's CGI. That's all fake' — and you're going to be looking at it with your own eyes," Delaware North communicator Bill Schafer told the crowd over loudspeakers.

"But you'll hear the sonic boom. You'll hear the roar of the engine. This is beautiful weather for this. Good Lord willing, we'll be able to have an amazing launch. And then about 8½ minutes into the flight, (they'll) be landing. And you'll just be amazed," Schafer said.

Falcon Heavy fueling is now underway

Update 7:28 p.m.: SpaceX crews are now fueling the Falcon Heavy first stage with rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen at pad 39A, visual cues indicate.

SpaceX: 'All systems are looking good'

Update 7:13 p.m.: SpaceX just announced: "All systems are looking good and weather is 90% favorable for tonight’s Falcon Heavy launch of USSF-52."

That represents an upgrade over the 80% "go for launch" odds cited in the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron forecast, which was issued Wednesday.

SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch countdown

Update 6:55 p.m.: Here are key milestones in tonight's upcoming Falcon Heavy launch timeline:

53 minutes:

SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load.

50 minutes:

First-stage rocket-grade kerosene loading begins.

45 minutes:

First-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

35 minutes:

Second-stage rocket-grade kerosene loading begins.

18½ minutes:

Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

7 minutes:

Falcon Heavy begins engine chill.

59 seconds:

Flight computer commanded to begin final pre-launch checks.

45 seconds:

SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.

20 seconds:

Propellant tanks pressurize for flight.

6 seconds:

Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.

0 seconds:

Falcon Heavy liftoff.

Previous SpaceX doubleheader got scrubbed

Update 6:33 p.m.: As a reminder, SpaceX attempted back-to-back Falcon Heavy and Falcon 9 launches on Dec. 10, but neither liftoff occurred.

Rather, crews scrubbed the Falcon Heavy launch attempt "due to a ground side issue." Blustery weather ensued along the Space Coast for many of the days leading up to Christmas.

This afternoon, SpaceX officials tweeted a pair of photos of the Falcon Heavy standing at pad 39A.

Falcon Heavy launch viewing tickets sell out

The Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex countdown clock ticks down the minutes to tonight's SpaceX Falcon Heavy USSF-52 rocket launch.
The Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex countdown clock ticks down the minutes to tonight's SpaceX Falcon Heavy USSF-52 rocket launch.

Update 6:16 p.m.: All viewing tickets sold out earlier today for the upcoming Falcon Heavy launch at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, spokesperson Rebecca Burgman said.

Viewing tickets sold out this morning for spots at the complex's Apollo/Saturn V Center, which is accessible by bus and situated roughly 3 miles from pad 39B. Online ticket sales ended this afternoon for launch viewing at the main visitor complex.

"We always expect some increased attendance during this holiday week. And of course, having a launch just enhances that interest from the consumer standpoint," Burgman said.

"There's definitely a huge interest, obviously, in seeing a launch. It is that kind of bucket-list experience for a lot of people who probably were here visiting Orlando or other areas of Central Florida," she said.

"We did see people who had driven a couple hours — two to three hours — to be here to hopefully see it. So hopefully, we'll have a beautiful lunch tonight and make everybody happy," she said.

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

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Updates: SpaceX's Thursday launch doubleheader from Cape Canaveral