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Will Florida's Space Coast surpass 100 annual rocket launches for 1st time this year?
Will the annual number of orbital rockets launched from Florida's Space Coast reach triple digits for the first time by year's end? Stay tuned. During 2024, a record-shattering 93 launches took flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's neighboring Kennedy Space Center, easily zooming past the previous record of 72 launches in 2023. But in an unprecedented cadence, 61 launches have already racked up thus far during 2025. That's a full month and a half — or 47 days — ahead of last year's record pace. "The increase that you're seeing, especially in our eastern and western ranges, reflects the deployment of these mega-constellations for broadband, direct-to-device and other things," said Karen Jones, a space economist and technology strategist with the Center for Space Policy and Strategy at The Aerospace Corp. "It's healthy. It's showing that market's growing," Jones said. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral SpaceX Starlink high-speed-internet missions continue to dominate the Space Coast's launch schedule. As of Wednesday, July 16, Starlink boasted more than six million customers and 7,945 functioning satellites in low-Earth orbit, according to Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. That sum does not include the latest batch of 26 Starlink satellites launched Wednesday night from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. In the Cape's 61st liftoff of the year thus far, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 24 Amazon Project Kuiper internet-beaming satellites into low-Earth orbit on the KF-01 mission Wednesday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Project Kuiper is Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' competitor to Elon Musk's Starlink. By comparison, Florida's 61st launch of 2024 did not occur until Labor Day weekend, on Aug. 28. That's when SpaceX's Starlink 8-10 mission lifted off from the Space Force installation, deploying 21 Starlink satellites. The rise of orbiting mega-constellations Worldwide, nearly 11,900 operational satellites were orbiting Earth by the end of 2024 — a sum that skyrocketed 454% since 2018. The global annual launch rate increased by 129% during that same span, The Aerospace Corp. reported in a paper co-authored by Jones that was published two weeks ago. Aside from Starlink, count Amazon's Project Kuiper and AST SpaceMobile among the commercial companies also vying to ramp up future communications-satellite launches from Florida. Also following suit: China. "Not surprisingly, the world's second-largest economy is not remaining earthbound. While China has one commercial spaceport, the country plans to launch more than 36,000 satellites in the near future," The Aerospace Corp. paper said. "The constellation GuoWang ('SatNet') is expected to have about 13,000 satellites and compete with Starlink services. Another project to rival Starlink is Qianfan ('Thousand Sails')," the paper said. Though demand for individual launches continues to surge, Jones said this trend may back off in coming years as companies consolidate and far-larger rockets boasting jumbo-sized fairings like SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's New Glenn let companies "maximize their productivity and minimize resource consumption." What's more, Jones' paper noted the commercialization of low-Earth orbit is showing signs of maturity "as early entrants capture market share and later entrants strive to differentiate themselves." BryceTech, an Alexandria, Virginia, analytics firm, forecasts that an average of 3,100 spacecraft per year will be deployed through 2028, decreasing to 2,500 spacecraft from 2029 to 2033. Meanwhile, SpaceX seeks environmental approvals to start launching Starship-Super Heavy rocket systems from KSC and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Blue Origin is expected to launch its second powerhouse New Glenn rocket as early as mid-August from the Space Force installation. NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 highlights launch schedule Looking ahead on the Eastern Range calendar, two missions are coming up from Cape Canaveral. Note that SpaceX is likely to launch more Starlink missions during this timeframe: A Falcon 9 should deploy the Boeing-built ninth and 10th O3B mPOWER satellites into medium-Earth orbit Monday, July 21, owner/operator SES reported. The launch window extends from 5 p.m. to 8:13 p.m. NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 is scheduled for launch at 12:09 p.m. July 31, sending NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov up for a long-duration stay aboard the International Space Station. For at least the second straight year, high-profile officials kicked off January with public launch-total predictions that proved far too optimistic. The Space Force initially projected up to 156 launches would take flight this year from Florida's Space Coast. For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ 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: Will Cape Canaveral see unprecedented 100 rocket launches during 2025? Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
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Amazon Turns to SpaceX as $10B Kuiper Satellite Deadline Nears
July 16 - Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is teaming up with rival SpaceX to send its latest batch of Kuiper satellites into orbit, as it intensifies efforts to meet a critical regulatory deadline. A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off Wednesday from Florida's Space Coast, carrying 24 Kuiper satellites. The mission, named KF-01, comes as Amazon works to accelerate deployment under a U.S. Federal Communications Commission requirement to launch half of its planned 3,236-satellite constellation by mid-2026. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Sign with AMZN. The partnership marks a rare collaboration between Jeff Bezos' Amazon and Elon Musk's SpaceX, whose Starlink service currently dominates the satellite internet market with about 8,000 low-Earth orbit satellites in operation. Following Wednesday's flight, Amazon will have 78 satellites in orbit. The company previously relied on United Launch Alliance for two Kuiper missions earlier this year. To meet its deployment goals, Amazon has booked up to 83 launches, including at least three with SpaceX. The project has become a major investment focus for Amazon, with up to $10 billion in total spending, including $1.1 billion on satellite production and roughly $150 million per launch. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Science
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SpaceX launch overnight: What to know about Amazon satellite launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida
Coming up overnight: SpaceX's first-ever launch of Amazon Project Kuiper satellites. But will rainy weather wash out the early morning liftoff attempt with Invest 93-L swirling near the Florida peninsula? SpaceX is targeting a 27-minute launch window that opens at 2:18 a.m. Wednesday to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 will deploy a batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites into low-Earth orbit, the Space Coast Office of Tourism reported. The mission will expand Amazon's newly established constellation — which consists of 54 satellites to date. The chance of precipitation is 40%, per the National Weather Service forecast. Partly cloudy skies should otherwise prevail, with a low around 75 degrees and south wind around 10 mph. No Brevard County sonic booms are expected. Rather, after soaring skyward to the northeast, the rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. Check back for live FLORIDA TODAY Space Team launch coverage updates on this page, starting about 90 minutes before the post-midnight launch window opens. Then when SpaceX's live webcast begins about 15 minutes before liftoff, we'll post it below next to our countdown clock. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral Countdown Timer For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ 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: SpaceX rocket launch overnight: What to know before liftoff from Florida
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Science
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SpaceX Amazon satellite launch in Florida: When to watch in Vero Beach, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce
A late-night rocket launch from Florida is on the horizon — and if you're on the Treasure Coast, it'll be a sight to see. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will potentially carry the third batch of Amazon satellites into low-Earth orbit. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos launched Project Kuiper, a global network of satellites, to compete with SpaceX CEO-billionaire Elon Musk and Starlink satellites. The first two launches of the Amazon Project Kuiper production satellites were courtesy of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral. Online, the mission has been called the "Amazon rocket launch" or "the Amazon rocket launch from Florida,' but it's accurate to call it the Amazon satellite rocket launch. Rockets here launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center or nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast could be visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach to as far south as Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach. When there's a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there's an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo. Below is more information about the SpaceX rocket launch in Florida and suggestions on where to watch them from here. Is there a launch today? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@ or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@ For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit Mission: SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket and deploy a payload of Amazon Project Kuiper internet-beaming satellites into low-Earth orbit, the Space Coast Office of Tourism reported. Launch window: 2:10 a.m. to 3:38 a.m. ET Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Launch location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida Sonic booms for Space Coast of Florida (Merritt Island, Melbourne area): No Live coverage starts 90 minutes before liftoff at : You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Network's Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at starting 90 minutes before liftoff. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type into your browser. Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache. Sebastian Inlet State Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach, Florida (cost to enter) Wabasso Beach Park, 1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso, Florida Ambersands Beach Park, 12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach, Florida (free parking) South Beach Park, 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, Florida (free parking) Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach, Florida Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach, Florida Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, 905 Shorewinds Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida Blind Creek Beachside North and South, 5460 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida Blue Heron Beach, 2101 Blue Heron Blvd., Fort Pierce, Florida Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, 3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida Dollman Park Beachside, 9200 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida Herman's Bay Beach, 7880 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida John Brooks Park Beachside, 3300 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida Middle Cove Beach, 4600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida Normandy Beach in Jensen Beach, Florida Pepper Park Beachside, 3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce, Florida Walton Rocks Beach, 6700 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida (dog park) Waveland Beach, 10350 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida State Road A1A causeway in Stuart, Florida House of Refuge and beach, 301 S.E. MacArthur Blvd., Stuart, Florida This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: SpaceX, Amazon satellite rocket launch: What time is Florida liftoff?
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Science
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SpaceX Project Kuiper rocket launch in Florida: What time is liftoff from Cape Canaveral?
A late-night rocket launch from Florida is on the horizon — and if you're on the Space Coast, it'll be a sight to see. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will potentially carry the third batch of Amazon satellites into low-Earth orbit. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos launched Project Kuiper, a global network of satellites, to compete with SpaceX CEO-billionaire Elon Musk and Starlink satellites. The first two launches of the Amazon Project Kuiper production satellites were courtesy of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral. Online, the mission has been called the "Amazon rocket launch" or "the Amazon rocket launch from Florida,' but it's accurate to call it the Amazon satellite rocket launch. Rockets here launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center or nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast could be visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach to as far south as Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach. When there's a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there's an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo. Below is more information about the SpaceX rocket launch in Florida and suggestions on where to watch them from here. Is there a launch today? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@ or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@ For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit Mission: SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket and deploy a payload of Amazon Project Kuiper internet-beaming satellites into low-Earth orbit, the Space Coast Office of Tourism reported. Launch window: 2:10 a.m. to 3:38 a.m. ET Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Launch location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida Sonic booms for Space Coast of Florida (Merritt Island, Melbourne area): No Live coverage starts 90 minutes before liftoff at : You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Network's Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at starting 90 minutes before liftoff. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type into your browser. Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache. Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you'll get a view of the rocket launch − in certain areas, you can get an amazing view of SpaceX rocket boosters returning to the pads. The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach. However, visibility will depend on weather conditions and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches. If you are viewing the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east directly across the river. If you are farther south along the Indian River, look northeast. Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest spot to view liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. On the beach, look south along the coastline, (you can even see the pad from some spots). Some hotspots to check out: Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter) Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Note, there's a charge to park. Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Note, there's a charge to park, and access to Canaveral National Seashore isn't always granted depending on capacity and time of day. Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note, parking is available on both sides of Max Brewer Bridge. Space View Park, 8 Broad St., Titusville Sand Point Park, 10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville Rotary Riverfront Park, 4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville Riverfront Park at Cocoa Village, 401 Riveredge Blvd., Cocoa (just before State Road 520 Causeway) Cocoa Village, near the parks and shops or near the docks Various parks on Merritt Island Rotary Park, 1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road on Merritt Island Port Canaveral, with ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean at port Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs. Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. Parking fee varies. Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a dog park, by the way. Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs. Downtown Cocoa Beach, along Minutemen Causeway Tables Beach, 197 SR A1A, Satellite Beach The Tides on SR A1A in Satellite Beach Various parks, including the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach Pineda Causeway Eau Gallie Causeway Front Street Park near Melbourne (U.S. 192) Causeway and U.S. 1 in Melbourne Indialantic boardwalk at Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A Paradise Beach Park, aka Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (this is a beachside park) Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX Amazon satellite rocket launch in Florida: What time is liftoff
