Will SpaceX break the annual record of 72 rocket launches?
FAA shuts down SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket after upper stage problem on July 11
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket fleet for two weeks before allowing it to resume flight operations on July 25.
NASA has been launching rockets from Florida’s Space Coast for more than 60 years, and a lot has changed since the first rocket launch from Cape Canaveral on July 24, 1950.
Rocket launches used to be a reason to leave school or work and admire the skies, but today they are much more common.
And Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets accounted for 94% (47 of 50) of all rocket launches from Cape Canaveral so far in 2024.
Today, with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets launching almost weekly, watching a rocket launch is much more relaxing than it used to be.
Why does SpaceX launch so often? Here’s what’s on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets and why they launch so often.
Rocket launch schedule: These are SpaceX and NASA’s upcoming rocket launches from Florida
Why is SpaceX launching so many rockets? What’s on the Falcon 9 rockets? What is Starlink?
Although SpaceX launches manned missions, the space agency frequently sends rockets loaded with satellites into Earth orbit to support Elon Musk’s Starlink network, which provides an internet service provider.
There are also occasional satellite launches for paying customers and even supply missions for the International Space Station.
Starlink aims to provide service to people in remote areas around the world who don’t have access to high-speed internet through a network of thousands of satellites orbiting in the atmosphere close to Earth.
“The satellite provider offers its service on all seven continents and now reaches three million users in 99 countries. Starlink continues to launch new satellites at a rapid pace, worrying some scientists who say the flood of satellites is affecting astronomical photo-taking and data collection,” according to EarthSky and USA TODAY.
How many rockets will SpaceX launch in 2024?
How many of SpaceX’s planned launches this year are actually successful depends on the weather conditions on each launch day.
In 2023, SpaceX completed a record-breaking 72 successful launches and is expected to break that record again this year.
When will the next rocket launch take place at Cape Canaveral or NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida?
➤ Click this link to go to FLORIDA TODAY’s rocket launch calendar, which is updated regularly.
For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space. To sign up for FLORIDA TODAY’s weekly space newsletter, visit https://profile.floridatoday.com/newsletters/manage.
You can follow rocket launch coverage live from the USA TODAY Network’s Space Team, which includes FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and photojournalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team provides breaking updates in a mobile-friendly live blog at floridatoday.com/space, beginning 90 minutes or two hours before launch (depending on the launch and mission). You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, available from the App Store or Google Play, or enter a floridatoday.com/space in your browser.
Where can you watch a SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral or Kennedy Space Center?
Brevard County, also known as the Space Coast of Florida: You can watch the rocket launch from pretty much anywhere on the Space Coast — in certain areas, you’ll get a fantastic view of the SpaceX rocket boosters returning to the launch pads. The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is from the beach, but visibility depends on weather conditions and cloud cover. Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore are the closest places to watch the launch, as they are almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. From the beach, look south along the coast (you can even see the launch pad from some spots).
Volusia County, also known as the Fun Coast of Florida: Weather permitting and cloud cover good, rocket launches from the neighboring Space Coast could be visible in the Volusia County area, particularly in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill and Port Orange.
Indian River County, Stuart County or Martin County, also known as Florida’s Treasure Coast: Weather permitting and cloud cover good, rocket launches – especially night launches – can be visible from the neighboring Space Coast in the Treasure Coast region, especially from Sebastian Inlet, Vero Beach or other parts of Indian River County. Rocket launches have also been spotted in Stuart and Jensen Beach, Florida.
Is SpaceX still grounded? Why did the FAA ground the SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets?
Due to a failed launch from California, the FAA suspended Falcon 9 rocket launches for two weeks in July 2024 and grounded all of its Falcon 9 rockets (including in Florida) starting July 11, 2024. However, on July 25, 2024, this suspension was lifted and launches to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida were back on schedule.
