SpaceX plans to launch 29 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on Nov. 18, with liftoff scheduled for about 7:10 p.m. ET and satellite deployment roughly 1 hour and 4 minutes later. The first-stage booster flying this mission is on its 12th flight and has previously supported five Starlink launches. Starlink now serves over 7 million users, and industry counts place more than 8,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. The FAA recently ended a temporary overnight-only launch restriction that had been in place earlier in November.
SpaceX Launch: Falcon 9 to Deliver 29 Starlink Satellites — Live Nov. 18, 7:10 p.m. ET
SpaceX plans to launch 29 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on Nov. 18, with liftoff scheduled for about 7:10 p.m. ET and satellite deployment roughly 1 hour and 4 minutes later. The first-stage booster flying this mission is on its 12th flight and has previously supported five Starlink launches. Starlink now serves over 7 million users, and industry counts place more than 8,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. The FAA recently ended a temporary overnight-only launch restriction that had been in place earlier in November.
07:59 AM, 11/19/2025Technology
SpaceX's Falcon 9 is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at approximately 7:10 p.m. ET, carrying 29 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The satellites are expected to deploy about 1 hour and 4 minutes after liftoff.
Launch details
The mission will use a first-stage booster on its 12th flight; SpaceX notes this booster previously supported five other Starlink launches. Following stage separation, the booster will attempt a controlled return and recovery so it can be refurbished and reflown in future missions.
Live coverage will be available at the scheduled liftoff window on SpaceX's official webcast and other streaming platforms. Viewers should check SpaceX's website or its social channels for the exact livestream link and any last-minute updates or delays.
Why this matters
Starlink is SpaceX's broadband satellite constellation aimed at providing high-speed internet for streaming, calls, gaming and remote work anywhere on Earth. According to company and industry figures, Starlink now serves more than 7 million users across roughly 150 countries and territories. Space.com reports there are about 8,475 Starlink satellites in orbit toward an eventual target of roughly 42,000; each satellite is designed for an operational life of around five years.
Company background and recent operational context
Founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, SpaceX developed reusable rockets that return to Earth for recovery and reflights, enabling lower launch costs and faster cadence. The company completed its first crewed flight to the International Space Station in 2020 and, per company figures, has performed hundreds of missions with numerous successful stage recoveries and reflights.
Earlier in November, the Federal Aviation Administration terminated a temporary flight reduction order that had restricted commercial launches and reentries to overnight hours (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.). That restriction was implemented during the 2025 U.S. government shutdown when air traffic control staffing and payment issues affected operations; it was ended on Nov. 17 at 6 a.m., removing the overnight-only limitation. Companies previously had to request waivers for launches outside the overnight window.
Sources: SpaceX; Space.com