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Space Coast Tops 100 Launches — December Lineup: SpaceX Starlink, NROL‑77, ULA Atlas V and More

Florida's Space Coast reached 101 orbital launches through November, breaking the previous record of 93. December's manifest remains busy, dominated by multiple SpaceX Starlink flights and featuring a national security NROL‑77 mission plus a ULA Atlas V carrying Amazon Leo satellites. High-profile upcoming missions include a crewed lunar flyaround, Boeing's Starliner cargo test, and Sierra Space's Dream Chaser on a Vulcan rocket. All times are Eastern and subject to change; live coverage typically begins ahead of each launch.

12:43 AM, 12/02/2025Science
Space Coast Tops 100 Launches — December Lineup: SpaceX Starlink, NROL‑77, ULA Atlas V and More

Florida's Space Coast closed November with an unexpected milestone: 101 orbital launches from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, surpassing the previous annual record of 93. As December unfolds, the launch cadence remains high, led by multiple SpaceX Starlink missions and joined by national security and commercial rides. Below is a clear, updated rundown of upcoming missions (all times Eastern). Note: launch dates and windows are frequently adjusted for weather, technical or range considerations.

Upcoming launches from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center

Mission: SpaceX Falcon 9 — 29 Starlink satellites
Launch window: 3:16 p.m. to 7:16 p.m. EST
Trajectory: Southeast
Location: Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Sonic booms: No expected booms
Live coverage: Broadcasters typically begin live feeds about 90 minutes before liftoff.

Mission: SpaceX Falcon 9 — 29 Starlink satellites (second mission)
Launch window: 4:40 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. EST
Trajectory: Southeast
Location: Pad 39A, NASA's Kennedy Space Center
Sonic booms: No expected booms
Live coverage: Live coverage typically begins about 90 minutes prior to liftoff.

Mission: SpaceX Falcon 9 — NROL‑77 (national security payload for the Space Force’s Space Systems Command and the National Reconnaissance Office)
Launch: 2:16 p.m. EST (target time)
Trajectory: To be announced
Location: Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Sonic booms: Yes — sonic booms are possible depending on the flight path and staging events
Live coverage: Coverage typically begins about 90 minutes before launch.

Mission: United Launch Alliance Atlas V — Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) broadband satellites
Launch window: Opens at 3:52 a.m. EST
Trajectory: To be announced
Location: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Sonic booms: No expected booms
Live coverage: Coverage usually begins about 90 minutes before liftoff.

Mission: Crewed lunar flyaround — four astronauts on a 10-day mission to advance lunar exploration preparations
Launch window: To be announced
Trajectory: To be announced
Location: Pad 39B, NASA's Kennedy Space Center
Sonic booms: No expected booms
Live coverage: Media coverage generally starts several hours before launch.

Mission: Boeing Starliner (uncrewed) — cargo delivery to the International Space Station and in-flight validation of system upgrades
Launch window: To be announced
Trajectory: To be announced
Location: To be announced
Sonic booms: To be announced
Live coverage: Coverage typically starts about two hours before liftoff.

Mission: Sierra Space Dream Chaser (uncrewed) atop a ULA Vulcan rocket — cargo/resupply flight
Launch window: To be announced
Location: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Live coverage: Coverage typically begins about two hours before liftoff.

Because schedules shift frequently, check official launch provider pages and range notices for the latest updates and live-stream links. For questions or more details, contact the reporter listed below.

By Rick Neale

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