SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites from Kennedy Space Center before dawn
After a Saturday morning scrub attributed to unfavorable downrange weather, SpaceX successfully launched 29 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket at 3:10 a.m. ET
The mission, Starlink 10-51, climbed to the northeast and counted as the Space Coast's 93rd orbital launch of 2025, tying the annual launch record set last year. The flight continues SpaceX's steady cadence of Starlink deployments, expanding the company's low-Earth-orbit broadband constellation.
Photographers capture predawn liftoff
Photographers positioned around Cape Canaveral and on Kennedy Space Center property captured striking predawn images of the ascent. Photos show the Falcon 9 rising through the early sky, with the exhaust plume and stage separation clearly visible against the dim horizon.
Officials said teams scrubbed the Saturday attempt because of poor downrange weather, then returned the rocket to launch readiness for the overnight window. The successful launch the following morning demonstrated the team’s ability to recover quickly and proceed within a tight schedule.
Local coverage and context
Local news outlets published galleries documenting the liftoff for readers tracking Cape activity, reflecting the high tempo of launches from the Space Coast in 2025.
"A predawn spectacle: Falcon 9 lights up the horizon as it deploys another batch of Starlink satellites," observers said.
Reporter: Rick Neale, Space Reporter, FLORIDA TODAY. Contact: Rneale@floridatoday.com. For more coverage and photo galleries from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, visit Florida Today.
Support for local space journalism helps sustain coverage of launches and the broader industry.
