SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-88 Mission In Spectacular Nighttime Display

As the clock struck 1:48 a. m. on January 4, the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station roared back to — with the launch of SpaceX’s Starlink 6-88 mission. This Falcon 9 rocket, carrying its payload into orbit, marked the first of what promises to be a busy year for space exploration, with 109 launches achieved in the previous year.

The launch window, which extended to 3:17 a. m., allowed for a brief period for the rocket to depart from Launch Complex 40, traveling southeast and providing a nighttime spectacle for those located south of the Cape. According to Florida Today, the sonic booms typically associated with such launches would not be audible in Brevard, as the Falcon 9’s first stage was planned to land on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX’s launch webcast, hosted on X, provided real-time coverage of the event, complete with a countdown clock.

For those who missed the — broadcast, the webcast is now available for viewing. Brooke Edwards, a Space Reporter for Florida Today, has been covering the developments and can be reached at bedwards@floridatoday. com or on X at @brookeofstars.