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SpaceX moves Thuraya-4 launch try to Friday night from Cape Canaveral
(This story has been updated to include SpaceX’s latest launch window.)
First launch of 2025: SpaceX is now targeting a four-hour window that opens at 8:27 p.m. EST Friday — 24 hours later than initially anticipated — to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The Falcon 9 will deploy the Space42 Thuraya-4 geostationary telecommunications satellite after lifting off from Launch Complex 40.
“Thuraya 4-NGS is a communication satellite being built by Airbus Defense and Space for the UAE based Yahsat,” the Space Coast Office of Tourism reported on its website.
“Based on the all-electric Airbus Eurostar-Neo Platform, Thuraya 4-NGS will incorporate a large 12-meter L-band antenna and a payload with on-board processing providing advanced routing flexibility of up to 3200 channels with dynamic power allocation over a large number of spot beams,” the website said.
Rocket photography:FLORIDA TODAY’s 2025 Space Launch Calendar is here
No Central Florida sonic booms are expected during the Thuraya-4 mission. Rather, after soaring skyward along a due east trajectory, the rocket’s first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship out at sea about eight minutes after liftoff.
The Cape’s first mission of the new year comes on the heels of a record-breaking 2024, where an unprecedented 93 orbital rockets took flight during the calendar year. That total blew past 2023’s short-lived record of 72 annual launches.
Looking beyond Thuraya-4, SpaceX is targeting its next Starlink broadband satellite launch for Sunday afternoon from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, per the FAA. That Starlink 6-71 launch window extends from 12:10 p.m. to 4:41 p.m.
And space fans continue waiting for Blue Origin to announce a launch date for the first-ever flight of its New Glenn rocket. An FAA launch window is listed for early Monday morning, but no launch date has been finalized.
For FLORIDA TODAY Space Team live updates of Friday’s Thuraya-4 mission, visit floridatoday.com/space starting about 90 minutes before the 8:27 p.m. launch target time. When SpaceX’s live webcast kicks off about 15 minutes before liftoff, we’ll provide a link.
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale atRneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
SpaceX has announced that they are rescheduling the launch of the Thuraya-4 satellite to Friday night from Cape Canaveral.
Originally planned for earlier in the week, the launch was postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions. Now, with improved weather forecasts, SpaceX is gearing up for a successful launch on Friday night.
The Thuraya-4 satellite will provide enhanced mobile satellite services for Thuraya’s customers in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. This launch marks another milestone for SpaceX as they continue to expand their capabilities in the satellite communication industry.
Stay tuned for updates on the launch and be sure to catch the live stream of the event on Friday night. SpaceX is ready to make history once again.
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