A SpaceX rocket is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 5:05 a.m. on Thursday, July 8, 2026. The launch of Starlink 10-42 will be visible low on the southeastern horizon for observers along the East Coast, weather permitting. The mission will deploy 29 desk-sized Starlink satellites to expand SpaceX’s broadband internet constellation.
The rocket will become visible about two to three minutes after liftoff for viewers in central North Carolina, rising above the southern horizon. Around six minutes post-launch, it will reach its highest point in the sky, approximately 17 degrees above the horizon, just above the treeline for many observers. Although sunrise will still be about an hour away on the ground, sunlight will already be illuminating the upper atmosphere where the rocket and its exhaust plume will be traveling.
The exhaust plume may appear to take on a jellyfish-like shape as it expands in the reduced pressure of the upper atmosphere. This effect, combined with the predawn sky’s darkness, could create a striking visual display. The mission is part of SpaceX’s ongoing effort to replenish its Starlink network, which loses satellites as they de-orbit at the end of their operational lives.
Increased solar activity can accelerate this process by heating the upper atmosphere and increasing drag on satellites. Some Starlink satellites may de-orbit sooner than expected as a result. The launch will be the 10th mission in the Starlink 10 series, with previous launches having deployed over 1,500 satellites to date.
Residents along the Space Coast and across the East Coast are encouraged to look southeast just after 5:10 a.m. to catch the rocket’s ascent. Orange Mars and cream-colored Saturn will also be visible in the pre-dawn sky, offering a celestial backdrop to the event.