Florida’s Space Coast saw 48 orbital rocket launches during the first six months of this year. The question is, will the city, home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, be able to break the 100 launch barrier by December 31?
For comparison, last year saw a record-breaking 72 orbital launches, setting a new annual record — one that appears to be short-lived.
This year, SpaceX flew 45 of the Space Coast’s first 48 launches through the end of June. United Launch Alliance sent up the other three rockets: the first Vulcan on its Jan. 8 certification mission, the last Delta IV Heavy on an NROL-70 mission on April 9, and the first mission of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5.
Following are the latest missions coming from Cape Canaveral. All launches are listed in Eastern Daylight Time. Keep in mind: Dates and times change regularly for a variety of reasons.
Cape Canaveral:Rocket launches in Florida: Here’s an updated list of all Space Coast missions for 2024
For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY space reporter Rick Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. For more space news, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Monday, July 8: SpaceX Turksat 6A
Although SpaceX has not yet announced the mission, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Space Coast Tourism Office said the Turksat 6A satellite will be launched on Monday afternoon.
- Objective: The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch Turkey’s first domestically built geostationary communications satellite, the Space Coast tourism office reports.
- launch: 5:20 PM
- Place: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Trajectory: due east.
- live coverage: beginning 90 minutes prior to flight at FloridaToday.com/Space.
Tuesday, July 30: United Launch Alliance USSF-51
- Objective: The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will launch the secretive USSF-51 mission for the Space Force’s Space Systems Command.
- Launch window: TBA
- Place: Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- live coverage: beginning 90 minutes prior to flight at FloridaToday.com/Space.
Not before July 31: SpaceX Polaris Dawn
- Objective: Shift4 founder and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman will once again command a SpaceX Dragon orbital mission. This mission will feature the debut of the SpaceX EVA (extravehicular activity) suit, as well as the first spacewalk by a private company.
- Launch window: TBA.
- Place: TBA.
- live coverage: starting two hours before flight at FloridaToday.com/Space.
Early August: SpaceX ISS resupply mission
- Objective: NASA, Northrop Grumman and SpaceX are aiming to send a Cygnus spacecraft on a resupply mission to the International Space Station in early August.
- Launch window: TBA
- Place: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- live coverage: beginning 90 minutes prior to flight at FloridaToday.com/Space.
Thursday, October 10: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper
- Objective: NASA’s Europa Clipper is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to conduct the first detailed investigation of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa.
- launch: TBA.
- Place: Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
- live coverage: starting two hours before flight at FloridaToday.com/Space.
Disclaimer : The content in this article is for educational and informational purposes only.
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