SpaceX launch recap: Space Coast sees twin launches Monday afternoon

Launch recap: Scroll down to read updates from the doubleheader SpaceX launches which lifted off at 12:22 p.m. and 4:28 p.m. on Monday, November 11, from Cape Canaveral.

It was a SpaceX Veterans Day launch doubleheader, with two Falcon 9 rockets taking flight Monday afternoon!

First, SpaceX launched the Koreasat-6A telecommunications satellite at 12:22 p.m. EST from pad 39A at KSC. The rocket's first-stage booster triggered Central Florida sonic booms by returning for landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Next, at 4:28 p.m., SpaceX crews launched the Starlink 6-69 mission from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission got scrubbed Sunday evening because of poor booster recovery conditions in the Atlantic Ocean, SpaceX reported.

The Falcon 9 will deployed 24 Starlink internet satellites, which were packed inside the fairing atop the 230-foot rocket. No sonic booms occurred after that launch. Rather, the booster landed aboard a SpaceX drone ship out at sea 8 minutes, 17 seconds after liftoff.

The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predicted 80% odds of favorable weather for the Starlink launch.

Rocket photography: FLORIDA TODAY's 2025 Space Launch Calendar is here

Countdown Timer

SpaceX booster lands on drone ship

Update 4:36 p.m.: The first stage booster has landed on A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, bringing an end to a double-launch day.

SpaceX liftoff!

Update 4:28 p.m.: The Falcon 9 has left the launch pad on the latest Starlink mission!

SpaceX live stream begins

Update 4:23 p.m.: The official SpaceX live stream has begun. It is posted above, below the countdown clock.

SpaceX launch from Florida in 10 minutes!

Update 4:18 p.m.: If you plan on watching this launch, now is the time to head outside. A bright rocket is visible anywhere on the Space Coast − even in the daylight!

SpaceX second launch of the day 20 minutes away!

Update 4:08 p.m.: Now that SpaceX is fueling, the Falcon 9 must lift off at 4:28 p.m. or be scrubbed for the day. Skies are currently clear over the Space Coast.

SpaceX fueling underway

Update 3:59 p.m.: SpaceX has not confirmed, but visual cues indicate fueling is underway. Liftoff is set for 4:28 p.m..

SpaceX launch countdown timeline

Update 3:48 p.m.: Here's a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX’s countdown timeline. T-minus:

• 38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load.

• 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

• 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

• 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.

• 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.

• 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.

• 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.

• 0 seconds: Liftoff.

Brevard EOC activates ahead of SpaceX launch

Update 3:38 p.m.: The Brevard EOC has activated ahead of this afternoon's launch.

SpaceX pushes launch time

Update 3:23 p.m.: SpaceX is now targeting 4:28 p.m. for launch.

SpaceX Starlink launch still on track

Update 2:55 p.m.: SpaceX has confirmed they are still planning to launch the Starlink 6-69 mission in just over an hour from Space Launch Complex 40.

SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral: Drone ship

Update 2:48 p.m.: Unlike earlier, this upcoming launch will not give Brevard a sonic boom. The first stage booster will land out on the A Shortfall of Gravitas drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida.

The only sound that should be heard is the Falcon 9's rumble.

SpaceX Starlink launch from Florida: first stage facts

Update 2:35 p.m.: The booster for this second launch of the day will see its 12th flight. Previous missions include Euclid, Axiom-2, Axiom-3, Cygnus NG-21, SES 24, CRS-30, and five Starlink missions.

SpaceX posts footage of Koreasat-6A deployment

Update 2:25 p.m.: SpaceX has posted footage from the deployment of Koreasat-6A, which launched at 12:22 p.m..

Up next, SpaceX is still targeting 4:02 p.m. to launch its Starlink mission, which was scrubbed last night due to weather.

SpaceX targeting about 1 launch every 2 days

Update 2:08 p.m.: In a tweet commemorating SpaceX's 400th lifetime launch last week, Vice President of Launch Kiko Dontchev said his company will target roughly one launch every two days through the end of the year.

That sum also includes SpaceX missions from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas.

"While we will not make our original goal of 144 launches, we are still targeting 30 more launches in 2024 (~one every two days). It will not be easy and our work is cut out for us, but the team is all in. The only way we will achieve this goal is if we focus on safety and reliability. Above all else, we must keep the team safe and deliver 100% mission success!" Dontchev said in his tweet.

SpaceX nails 364th rocket booster landing

Update 1:45 p.m.: When the Koreasat-6A Falcon 9 booster landed at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the touchdown marked SpaceX's 364th successful recovery of an orbital-class rocket, Somya Srivastava, structures engineer, said during the launch webcast.

SpaceX launching 77th, 78th Florida rockets of 2024

Update 1:22 p.m.: Koreasat-6A was the unprecedented 77th orbital rocket launch during a single calendar year from Florida's Space Coast.

This afternoon's upcoming Starlink mission will become No. 78.

"This record-breaking pace reflects the growing demand for space-based data and services, driven by years of dedicated work to expand Florida’s aerospace ecosystem. As the global industry moves toward a trillion-dollar economy, Florida is well positioned to lead, and we’re excited to see this momentum continue to build," Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long said in a tweet

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands at Cape Canaveral

Update 12:30 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just touched down at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, completing its 23rd mission.

Liftoff! Sonic booms incoming soon

Update 12:22 p.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 carrying the Koreasat-6A telecommunications satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit from KSC.

SpaceX booster to generate sonic booms

Update 12:13 p.m.: This mission marks the Falcon 9 first-stage booster’s 23rd flight, SpaceX reported.

The much-traveled booster previously launched CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, O3B mPOWER, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Marah Putih 2, Galileo L13 and 12 Starlink missions.

SpaceX Koreasat-6 launch webcast begins

Update 12:09 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast is now posted above, right below our countdown clock.

Liftoff is scheduled in 13 minutes from KSC.

SpaceX Koreasat-6A launch countdown

Update 12:01 p.m.: Here's a rundown of SpaceX’s upcoming behind-the-scenes countdown timeline. T-minus:

• 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

• 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.

• 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.

• 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.

• 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.

• 0 seconds: Liftoff.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling underway

Update 11:54 a.m.: Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at KSC, visual cues indicate.

That means the Koreasat-6A mission countdown is now locked in to lift off at 12:22 p.m. without any delays, or else the launch must be postponed.

SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard

Update 11:40 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Koreasat-6A launch.

SpaceX launch skies looking cloud-free

Update 11:33 a.m.: Florida's East Coast appears free of significant cloud cover from St. Augustine all the way southward to Fort Lauderdale, per this National Weather Service radar loop from the Melbourne Orlando International Airport station.

SpaceX pushes back launch target 15 minutes

Update 11:19 a.m.: SpaceX has moved back its target launch time to 12:22 p.m.

SpaceX now targeting Wednesday for Starlink 6-68 launch

Update 11:05 a.m.: SpaceX is now targeting Wednesday, rather than Tuesday, for its morning launch of the Starlink 6-68 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The 4½-hour launch window extends from 6-10:31 a.m., a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows.

KSC Visitor Complex offering Koreasat-6A viewing

Update 10:50 a.m.: KSC Visitor Complex officials opened a Koreasat-6A launch viewing area at the tourist attraction's Atlantis North Lawn 20 minutes ago, offering spectators a viewpoint 6.7 miles from the pad.

"The Koreasat 6A spacecraft, built by Thales Alenia Space, will have 20 transponders for fixed satellite services and six for TV broadcasting to replace the Koreasat 6 launched in 2010," the KSC Visitor Complex website said.

"Koreasat 6A will be based on the manufacturer’s Spacebus 4000B2 platform and is expected to weigh about 3.5 metric tons at launch. It will be designed to operate for at least 15 years," the website said.

Space Force launch weather details

Update 10:38 a.m.: The 45th Weather Squadron cited cumulus clouds as today's top threat to SpaceX's Koreasat-6A mission.

"By Monday that (high-pressure system off the Eastern seaboard) will have moved well into the Atlantic Ocean and a trailing ridge axis should be just north of the spaceport," the squadron's forecast said.

"This pattern is expected to open the door for a trough to move out of the tropics and into the local area, bringing a chance for showers and isolated thunderstorms during the primary launch window," the forecast said.

For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at 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: Launch recap: Double SpaceX launches from Cape Canaveral