A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off shortly after sunrise on April 2 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on a Starlink broadband satellite mission. The launch occurred at 7:55 a.m. and marked the first major space event in Brevard County since NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifted off earlier in the month. The Falcon 9 carried 53 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit, continuing SpaceX’s effort to expand global broadband coverage. The rocket’s first stage landed at Landing Zone 1 near Cape Canaveral, while the second stage continued toward its orbital destination.
Space fans in the area are now turning their attention to the upcoming United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission, which will carry 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites. The Amazon Leo 5 mission was originally scheduled for March 29 but was postponed due to poor weather. ULA officials said they would wait until after NASA’s Artemis II astronauts left the launch pad before attempting another launch. As of April 3, no new target date had been announced for the Atlas V, which is set to launch from Launch Complex 41 at the Space Force Station.
The Atlas V will be the first rocket to use five solid rocket boosters for the Leo 5 mission, a configuration that provides extra thrust for heavy payloads. The satellites will join Amazon’s existing constellation to expand internet access in underserved regions. ULA has not yet provided details on when the mission might resume, but the company typically aims to launch within weeks of a weather-related delay.
Local observers said the SpaceX launch was visible along the Space Coast, with bright plumes visible from as far north as Titusville and as far south as Cocoa Beach. The next major launch from the Space Force Station is expected to be the Atlas V, though the timeline remains uncertain. For updates on future launches, residents can check the 321 Launch newsletter or visit floridatoday.com/space.