12:33 am ET December 15, 2025
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands on drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas
Rick Neale
The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX’s drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its ninth mission.
12:25 am ET December 15, 2025
Liftoff!
Rick Neale
Liftoff! SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 carrying 29 Starlink satellites from wind-swept Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
12:20 am ET December 15, 2025
SpaceX rocket launch webcast begins
Rick Neale
SpaceX’s launch webcast is now posted above, right below our countdown clock.
Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
12:10 am ET December 15, 2025
SpaceX rocket launch coming up in 15 minutes from Cape Canaveral
Rick Neale
Fifteen minutes before SpaceX’s Falcon 9 lifts off, the countdown appears to be proceeding as planned.
Following is a list of key remaining countdown milestones. T-minus:
- 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
- 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go for launch.”
- 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
- 0 seconds: Falcon 9 liftoff.
12:00 am ET December 15, 2025
SpaceX rocket booster to land on drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas
Rick Neale
Today’s mission will mark the Falcon 9 first-stage booster’s ninth flight, SpaceX reported.
The booster previously launched NROL-69, CRS-32, GPS III-7, USSF-36 and four Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land on the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas at sea 8 minutes, 17 seconds after liftoff.
11:55 pm ET December 14, 2025
SpaceX rocket fueling is finally underway
Rick Neale
Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now taking place at Launch Complex 40, as indicated by a frost ring growing on the rocket’s exterior.
That means the Starlink mission countdown is locked in to lift off at 12:25 a.m. without any delays, or else this early morning launch must be postponed to a later date.
11:32 pm ET December 14, 2025
Another delay. SpaceX now targeting 12:25 a.m. for Falcon 9 liftoff
Rick Neale
The new target launch time is 12:25 a.m.
11:25 pm ET December 14, 2025
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch countdown highlights
Rick Neale
Here’s a step-by-step guide to the minutes leading up to launch from SpaceX’s behind-the-scenes Falcon 9 countdown timeline. T-minus:
- 38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load.
- 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
- 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.
- 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
- 0 seconds: Liftoff.
11:15 pm ET December 14, 2025
SpaceX launch to be 107th of year from Florida’s Space Coast
Rick Neale
SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch will clock in as the 107th orbital rocket launch thus far during 2025 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Click here for the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team’s updating tally listing all of this year’s missions, complete with photo galleries and story links.
11:01 pm ET December 14, 2025
SpaceX pushes back launch attempt again, to 12:08 a.m. Monday
Rick Neale
Yet another delay. SpaceX just announced the new target liftoff time is 12:08 a.m. Monday.
10:55 pm ET December 14, 2025
Winds whipping up high surf, rip currents ahead of SpaceX launch attempt
Rick Neale
Adding to the Cape’s ongoing meteorological warnings, a National Weather Service high surf advisory will take effect at 1 a.m. Monday across northern Brevard County.
Expect large breaking waves up to 10 feet high in the surf zone. A high rip current risk is already in effect through late Monday night.
10:39 pm ET December 14, 2025
Wind gusting up to 25 mph at Cape Canaveral ahead of SpaceX launch
Rick Neale
As of 9:55 p.m., the National Weather Service reported a north wind of 17 mph — punctuated by gusts up to 25 mph — at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Mostly cloudy skies prevailed, with a temperature of 67 degrees and 10-mile visibility.
10:23 pm ET December 14, 2025
SpaceX led world in spacecraft launched by huge margin in Q3
Rick Neale
SpaceX launched 854 of the world’s 1,044 spacecraft during the third quarter of this year, reported BryceTech, an analytics firm based in Alexandria, Virginia.
For perspective’s sake, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. ranked a distant second with 89 spacecraft.
United Launch Alliance and Roscosmos tied for third place by launching 29 spacecraft each.
10:02 pm ET December 14, 2025
SpaceX announces new Tuesday liftoff target for different Starlink mission
Rick Neale
Rather than Monday morning, SpaceX crews will now aim to launch the Starlink 6-99 mission at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, according to the company website. More details:
- Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch 29 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit.
- Trajectory: Southeast.
- Sonic booms: No.
- Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
9:48 pm ET December 14, 2025
SpaceX launch attempt also facing National Weather Service wind advisory
Rick Neale
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory this evening for northern Brevard County — including the Cape and Titusville — ranging northward to Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach.
Meteorologists expect north winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts reaching up to 35 mph.
“Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result,” a NWS weather message said.
The wind advisory will expire at 9 a.m. Monday.
9:31 pm ET December 14, 2025
SpaceX pushes back Falcon 9 launch attempt to 11:49 p.m.
Rick Neale
SpaceX crews have moved back tonight’s liftoff target time roughly 1½ hours, to 11:49 p.m.
9:16 pm ET December 14, 2025
More SpaceX launch weather forecast details
Rick Neale
The 45th Weather Squadron predicted troublesome liftoff winds in its forecast, which mentioned today’s cold front would bring “a reinforcing shot of cool, dry air.”
“Although little to no precipitation is expected with the frontal passage, strong high pressure centered over the Ohio Valley will create a very tight pressure gradient behind the front. This will bring a surge of northerly winds on Sunday evening near the opening of the window, with winds likely to increase as the night progresses,” the forecast said.
“The main concern is the low-level winds violating liftoff constraints, along with the low risk of a coastal shower violating the flight through Cumulus Cloud Rule,” the forecast said.
9:03 pm ET December 14, 2025
SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard County
Rick Neale
Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
8:49 pm ET December 14, 2025
Monday morning missions postponed by ULA, SpaceX amid windy weather
Rick Neale
Earlier today, United Launch Alliance officials postponed their Monday morning Atlas V launch attempt from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
ULA is now targeting 3:28 a.m. Tuesday for liftoff. That 29-minute launch window will last until 3:57 a.m., and the Atlas V will carry 27 Amazon Leo internet satellites into low-Earth orbit.
What’s more, SpaceX’s website now lists the Starlink 6-99 mission — which was also slated for launch Monday morning from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center — with a TBD liftoff target time.
Follow FLORIDA TODAY’s December launch schedule for the latest updates.
8:39 pm ET December 14, 2025
Space Force issues strong wind warning ahead of SpaceX launch attempt
Rick Neale
A strong wind warning went into effect about 8:05 p.m., calling for winds of 25 knots gusting up to 35 knots for all geographic areas at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s neighboring Kennedy Space Center.
The warning will remain in effect until 10 a.m. Monday.
