After stormy weather scrubbed the liftoff Sunday evening, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off into a cloud-covered sky Monday evening.
The launch occurred at 5:26 p.m. Dec. 8 from Pad 39A in NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The heavy cloud cover blocked the view of the rocket completely in some areas, leaving many across Brevard County unaware a launch occurred.
The Falcon 9 rocket carried 29 Starlink internet satellites to orbit on the booster’s record 32nd mission. No sonic booms were heard, as the booster landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship out in the Atlantic Ocean.
When is the next SpaceX rocket launch?
The next SpaceX launch is set for no earlier than 2:16 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission, titled NROL-77, is a national security mission for the Space Force’s Space Systems Command and the National Reconnaissance Office.
Those in Brevard County can expect a sonic boom to follow, as the Falcon 9 will return to Cape Canaveral Landing Zone 2.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
