SpaceX launched its CRS-34 mission on Friday, May 15, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40, marking the third attempt after two weather-related delays. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 6:05 p.m. with a cargo Dragon spacecraft carrying 6,500 pounds of supplies to the International Space Station. The launch proceeded without issues, and the first-stage booster landed successfully at Landing Zone 40, adjacent to the launch pad, marking its sixth trip to space. Residents in Brevard, Orange, and several other Central Florida counties reported sonic booms about eight minutes after liftoff as the booster re-entered the atmosphere.
The Dragon spacecraft, now on its sixth mission, is expected to reach the space station in approximately 37 hours, with docking scheduled for around 7 a.m. Sunday. It will remain attached for about a month before returning to Earth with scientific experiments and other cargo. SpaceX had warned residents ahead of the launch that sonic booms were likely during the booster’s descent, though the exact experience would depend on weather and location.
This was the first successful launch attempt since Tuesday and Wednesday were canceled due to poor weather conditions. The Falcon 9’s sixth flight highlighted SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to reuse hardware, reducing costs for space missions. The landing at Landing Zone 40, a site used for previous booster recoveries, was confirmed via live updates from the company’s social media accounts.
The mission underscores SpaceX’s role in sustaining operations at the International Space Station, with regular resupply trips critical to supporting astronauts. No major delays are expected for the Dragon’s journey, and the spacecraft is on track to deliver supplies and experiments to the orbiting laboratory as planned.