The planned doubleheader at Cape Canaveral was cut short when a ULA Atlas V experienced a technical issue and the night's second launch was scrubbed. SpaceX's Starlink 6-81 lifted off at 8:31 p.m. from LC-40, carrying 29 satellites and appearing to many observers to pass in front of the moon. The Falcon 9 booster landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship with no sonic booms reported in Brevard County. The ViaSat-3 F2 mission has been rescheduled for no earlier than 10:16 p.m. on Nov. 6 from LC-41.
SpaceX Starlink Launch Lights Up Cape Canaveral — ULA Atlas V Scrubbed; ViaSat-3 F2 Rescheduled
The planned doubleheader at Cape Canaveral was cut short when a ULA Atlas V experienced a technical issue and the night's second launch was scrubbed. SpaceX's Starlink 6-81 lifted off at 8:31 p.m. from LC-40, carrying 29 satellites and appearing to many observers to pass in front of the moon. The Falcon 9 booster landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship with no sonic booms reported in Brevard County. The ViaSat-3 F2 mission has been rescheduled for no earlier than 10:16 p.m. on Nov. 6 from LC-41.
13:48, 06.11.2025Science
SpaceX launch succeeds as planned; ULA Atlas V scrubbed
What could have been a record-tying doubleheader at Cape Canaveral ended when a United Launch Alliance Atlas V experienced a technical issue, forcing the night's second launch to be scrubbed.
The evening's first liftoff proceeded normally. SpaceX's Starlink 6-81 mission lifted off at 8:31 p.m. from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying 29 Starlink internet satellites to orbit. From many viewing locations, the Falcon 9 appeared to cross directly in front of the moon.
The Falcon 9's first-stage booster successfully returned to Earth and landed on the drone ship Just Read the Instructions, positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. No sonic booms were reported in Brevard County.
Atlas V scrub and new target date
A planned follow-up launch by ULA — the ViaSat-3 F2 mission on an Atlas V from Launch Complex 41 — was scrubbed after teams detected a technical issue. The mission has been rescheduled for no earlier than 10:16 p.m. on Nov. 6 while engineers troubleshoot and prepare a new launch attempt.
As the Space Coast reaches its 93rd launch of the year, the region is poised to match last year's yearly record if additional launches proceed as planned.
Reporter: Brooke Edwards, Space Reporter, Florida Today. Contact: bedwards@floridatoday.com • X: @brookeofstars
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Photos of SpaceX rocket launch Wednesday night from Cape Canaveral.