SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on March 15, 2024. The mission delivered 51 satellites to orbit as part of the Starlink broadband internet constellation. The rocket's first stage landed safely at the company's Landing Zone 1 near the Kennedy Space Center. This marked SpaceX's 100th launch from Brevard County since 2008.
The launch occurred during a window between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. EST, with liftoff at 11:45 a.m. The payload included 51 Starlink satellites, which will expand broadband coverage to rural and remote areas. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted shortly after liftoff: 'Another successful mission. Grateful to the team and the communities that support our work.'
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the same launchpad used for NASA's Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle program. The first stage booster, designated B1062, made its sixth flight and will be reused for future missions. The second stage deployed the satellites into low Earth orbit, where they will begin transmitting data after completing their deployment sequence.
SpaceX has conducted 28 launches from Brevard County in 2024 alone, averaging more than one mission every 12 days. The company employs over 7,000 people in the region, with thousands more working at subcontractor facilities. Local officials have praised the economic impact, though some residents have raised concerns about the frequency of launches and noise from nearby neighborhoods.
The mission followed a brief delay due to high winds at the launch site. Weather conditions improved by mid-morning, allowing the countdown to proceed. The successful launch brings SpaceX closer to its goal of launching 10,000 Starlink satellites to achieve global broadband coverage. The company plans to conduct another launch from the Space Coast in early April.