What to know: SpaceX rocket launch set for tonight from Cape Canaveral, Florida
2025-04-27T09:05:41Z
SpaceX will kick the week off with the launch of the Starlink 12-23 mission on the night of April 27.
Launch recap: Scroll down to read live updates from the launch of the Starlink 12-23 mission. The Falcon 9 rocket launched at 10:09 p.m. on April 27 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40.
Original story: Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY’s live coverage of the Starlink 12-23 mission!
Those waiting for the next rocket launch do not have to wait much longer, as SpaceX has plans to launch a rocket tonight (April 27).
Liftoff is now set for 10:09 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40. The Falcon 9 rocket will be carrying the Starlink 12-23 mission to orbit. This is the latest batch of SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites.
Should SpaceX not be able to launch at 10:09 p.m., opportunities exist until 1:49 a.m. (April 28).
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Delivering Group 12 satellites, the rocket will travel on a southeast trajectory after lift off to send the payload to its specific position in orbit.
There will be no Space Coast sonic booms, as the rocket booster will land eight-and-a-half minutes after lift off on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship, which will be stationed out in the Atlantic Ocean.
And it’s only the first planned rocket launch of the week.
As for the Amazon Kuiper mission, liftoff is still set for a two-hour window which opens at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 28, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41. Set for launch atop an Atlas V rocket, this will be Amazon’s entry into the satellite internet marketplace. Once the Project Kuiper satellite constellation is in place, it will make the Kuiper service a direct competition to SpaceX’s Starlink. Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos, and SpaceX by Elon Musk.
When is the next Florida launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Update 10:18 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX’s drone ship Just Read the Instructions out on the Atlantic Ocean, completing its 20th mission.
Liftoff!
Update 10:09 p.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral SLC-40!
SpaceX launch webcast begins
Update 10:04 p.m.: SpaceX’s launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, right below the countdown clock.
Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
10 minutes from tonight’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch!
Update 9:59 p.m.: T-10 minutes! Head outside if you plan on catching this launch! If you have clear skies, it will be hard to miss the bright rocket rising into the sky.
Simply look towards the direction South of Kennedy Space Center from your direction.
SpaceX launch countdown timeline
Update 9:49 p.m.: Here’s a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX’s countdown timeline. Second-stage (upper-stage) liquid oxygen will begin loading shortly.
T-minus:
38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load.
SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load. 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins. 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins. 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch. 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins. 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.
SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch. 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start. 0 seconds: Liftoff.
SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling now underway
Update 9:37 p.m.: Visual cues indicate Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40, though SpaceX has yet to make an official announcement.
That means tonight’s Starlink mission is now locked in to lift off at 10:09 p.m. without any countdown delays, or else the launch must be postponed.
SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard
Update 9:29 p.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch. Liftoff is scheduled for 10:09 p.m.
Tonight’s SpaceX Falcon 9 booster
Update 9:19 p.m.: Tonight’s Falcon 9 first-stage booster will be flying for the 20th time. Previous flights include: 12 Starlink missions, NASA’s Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20, and TD7.
One hour until SpaceX liftoff!
Update 9:09 p.m.: Liftoff is in one hour from now. Upon liftoff, the Falcon 9 rocket will head on a southeast trajectory.
Axiom Mission 4 Ax-4 mission upcoming astronaut launch
Update 9:02 p.m.: The crew of the Ax-4 mission recently completed NASA training in Houston and SpaceX training in Hawthorne. The crew of four is set to lift off no earlier than May in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and will spend some time on the International Space Station. Organized by Axiom Space, the international crew is led by former NASA astronaut, Peggy Whitson.
SpaceX launch weather
Update 8:52 p.m.: Skies in Brevard County are clear and weather looks great for tonight’s launch. Liftoff is set for 10:09 p.m.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket flight number climbing
Update 8:42 p.m.: The Starlink launch which occurred on April 24 from Cape Canaveral was the 475th launch of a Falcon 9 rocket. Tonight’s liftoff will make 476 launches of a Falcon 9.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
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