Rocket launches during April 2024 by SpaceX and ULA from Cape Canaveral, Florida

Rick Neale, Florida Today
Updated ·4 min read
Boeing's CST-100 Starliner crew ship approaches the International Space Station on the company's Orbital Flight Test-2 mission before automatically docking to the Harmony module's forward port.

In April, 10 rockets lifted off from Florida's Space Coast — home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Here's that list of April launches from Cape Canaveral, highlighted by United Launch Alliance's last Delta IV Heavy rocket taking flight on the NROL-70 mission. SpaceX accounted for the other nine launches.

For the latest launch updates and news from the Cape, follow FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team at floridatoday.com/space.

1. SpaceX Starlink 6-47

Two hours before sunrise, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket illuminated the predawn darkness during a Friday morning liftoff at 5:12 a.m. April 5 from CCSFS Launch Complex 40.

Starlink 6-47: SpaceX launches Falcon 9 in predawn darkness Friday on Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral

2. SpaceX Bandwagon-1

Described as "a new line of rideshare missions that will deliver spacecraft to mid-inclination orbits" during SpaceX's launch broadcast, the Bandwagon-1 Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 7:16 p.m. April 7 from pad 39A at KSC.

Bandwagon-1: SpaceX launches Bandwagon-1 spacecraft 'rideshare' mission Sunday from Kennedy Space Center

3. ULA Delta IV Heavy NORL-70

ULA's last Delta IV Heavy rocket bolted skyward on the NROL-70 mission, delivering a secretive payload for the National Reconnaissance Office to orbit after the 12:53 p.m. April 9 liftoff from CCSFS Launch Complex 37.

NROL-70: Delta IV Heavy's final fiery liftoff sends huge rocket into retirement from Cape Canaveral

4. SpaceX Starlink 6-48

After a trio of delays totaling more than 1½ hours, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites during a 1:40 a.m. April 10 liftoff from Launch Complex 40 at CCSFS.

Starlink 6-48: After delays, SpaceX sends Falcon 9 into orbit early Wednesday on Starlink mission from Cape

5. SpaceX Starlink 6-49

SpaceX launched a batch of 23 Starlink satellites into orbit with a Friday night launch at 9:40 p.m. April 12 from CCSFS Launch Complex 40.

Starlink 6-49: SpaceX launches Starlink 6-49 in Friday night rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida

6. SpaceX Starlink 6-51

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket delivered another 23 Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit, lifting off at 5:26 p.m. April 17 from KSC pad 39A and adding to the company's ever-expanding global constellation.

Starlink 6-51: Sunny rocket launch: SpaceX Starlink mission sails Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center

7. SpaceX Starlink 6-52

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket delivered another 23 Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit, lifting off at 6:40 p.m. on April 18 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40. This was the second launch in just over 24 hours.

Starlink 6-52: Second SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off in just over 24 hours from Florida

8. SpaceX Starlink 6-53

"Stage one landing leg deployed," a SpaceX crew member announced during the company webcast. About four seconds later, the rocket stage touched down on the drone ship — marking SpaceX's 300th Falcon booster landing after a 6:17 p.m. April 23 liftoff from Launch Complex 40 at CCSFS.

Starlink 6-53: SpaceX notches 300th Falcon rocket booster landing after Tuesday liftoff from Cape Canaveral

9. SpaceX/ESA Galileo L12

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried Galileo navigational satellites to medium-Earth orbit on April 27. The Falcon 9 booster saw its 20th and final flight.

Galileo L12: SpaceX launches Galileo satellites from Cape Canaveral, the first in back-to-back launches

10. SpaceX Starlink 6-54

Brevard County space buffs enjoyed a SpaceX Saturday-Sunday launch doubleheader weekend, with back-to-back Falcon 9 rockets sending satellites arcing up into orbit. The second Falcon 9 lifted off at 6:08 p.m. April 28 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on the Starlink 6-54 mission.

Starlink 6-54: SpaceX completes weekend launch doubleheader with Sunday Starlink liftoff from Cape Canaveral

For the latest launch updates and news from the Cape, follow FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team at visit floridatoday.com/space.

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: Rocket launch list: April 2024 missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida