A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch 29 Starlink broadband satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday, May 21. The launch window opens at 5:26 a.m. ET and runs until 9:26 a.m. ET. The rocket will take off from Launch Complex 40, heading northeast into low-Earth orbit. Weather and cloud cover will determine how far north the launch is visible. Officials say the plume could be seen as far north as Jacksonville Beach and as far south as West Palm Beach.
The launch is part of SpaceX’s ongoing Starlink mission to expand global broadband coverage. The satellites will be deployed into low-Earth orbit, where they will begin transmitting internet signals. SpaceX has launched hundreds of Starlink satellites from Florida since 2020, with most missions originating from Cape Canaveral or Kennedy Space Center.
Residents and visitors in Brevard County may have a chance to see the rocket’s ascent if conditions are clear. The early morning timing means the launch will occur before sunrise, potentially lighting up the sky with a bright contrail. Photographers have noted that the dark sky and contrail make for striking images, especially during the pre-dawn hours.
The mission, officially designated Starlink 10-31, is one of several scheduled this year to expand Starlink’s constellation. SpaceX has not released specific details about the satellites’ payload or deployment altitude, but previous missions have targeted orbits between 550 and 1,150 kilometers above Earth. Launches from Florida’s Space Coast are frequent, with SpaceX and other companies operating multiple pads in the region.