A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A at 10:13 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, carrying the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The launch ended a 20-month hiatus for the Falcon Heavy, which had last flown in late 2024. The mission was delayed Monday due to weather but cleared after conditions improved. Residents across Central Florida reported hearing sonic booms as the rocket ascended, a common occurrence during Falcon Heavy launches. The vehicle, composed of three Falcon 9 boosters, is the most powerful operational rocket in the world, capable of lifting up to 63,800 kilograms to low Earth orbit. This was the 12th Falcon Heavy launch in its history, with previous missions including satellite deployments and cargo runs to the International Space Station. The ViaSat-3 F3 satellite is part of a trio designed to provide global broadband coverage, with the first two satellites launched in 2023 and 2024. SpaceX officials confirmed the rocket performed as expected, with all three boosters landing successfully at Cape Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1 and 2, and the upper stage reaching its intended orbit. The launch came as the Kennedy Space Center continues to host a mix of commercial and government missions, with SpaceX and NASA both operating regularly from the facility. The next Falcon Heavy launch is tentatively scheduled for late 2027, pending payload availability and weather conditions. Richard Tribou, a reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, captured images of the liftoff from Pad 39A, which has been used for both NASA and SpaceX missions since its restoration in 2017. The Falcon Heavy’s return to flight follows a period of reduced activity for the rocket, which has been overshadowed in recent years by SpaceX’s Starship program and increased Falcon 9 operations.