WATCH: SpaceX Launches Falcon 9 Rocket from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday
By Space Coast Daily // February 18, 2025
coverage of the launch can be seen on Space Coast Daily TV
WATCH: SpaceX Launches Falcon 9 Rocket from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket on Tuesday, February 18, carrying 23 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Liftoff occurred at 6 p.m. ET, marking another milestone in SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to expand its global broadband internet network. Backup launch windows had been scheduled until 10 p.m. ET, with additional opportunities planned for Wednesday, February 19, but the primary window was utilized successfully.
A live webcast of the launch began approximately ten minutes before liftoff, allowing viewers to follow the mission via SpaceX’s official X account and the new X TV app. The mission was closely watched by space enthusiasts and industry experts.
This launch utilized a Falcon 9 first-stage booster that had previously completed 15 missions, making this its 16th flight. Among its prior missions were Ax-2, Euclid, Ax-3, CRS-30, Astra 1P, NG-21, and nine previous Starlink deployments. The booster successfully completed stage separation and proceeded with a landing attempt.
Following stage separation, the first stage booster successfully landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which had been stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of The Bahamas. The precision landing further demonstrated SpaceX’s ability to reuse rocket hardware, reducing the cost of spaceflight and increasing mission efficiency.
