SpaceX crews are gearing up for a Falcon 9 rocket launch this Tuesday afternoon, expected to take place under mostly sunny conditions from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, as announced by the Federal Aviation Administration. The launch window is scheduled to span four hours, from noon to 4:31 p.m. EST, kicking off the Starlink 12-18 mission. The Falcon 9 will ascend from Launch Complex 40, proceeding on a southeasterly path to deploy Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The first-stage booster is set to land on a SpaceX drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, so Central Florida residents shouldn't expect sonic booms from this launch. Following a successful mission over Super Bowl weekend, the National Weather Service is forecasting a 20% chance of rain post-1 p.m. on Tuesday, with expected high temperatures around 81°F and gentle breezes from the south-southeast at 5 to 10 mph. This launch marks the Space Coast's 14th orbital rocket launch this year, with ambitions set for another Starlink liftoff on February 17. SpaceX's booster will target a drone ship near the Bahamas for landing, where sonic booms may be audible depending on various conditions, according to the SpaceX website. For detailed updates on launch schedules from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Florida Today. Rick Neale is the Space Reporter for Florida Today. Stay tuned for industry updates, and consider subscribing to support our journalism dedicated to covering significant space events and launches in Florida.
