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SpaceX launches 1st of 2 Monday launches; human spaceflight up next

Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel on

Published in News & Features

SpaceX had two rockets at two pads on the Space Coast on Monday. After a successful first launch of the day, it’s down to one.

That’s because a Falcon 9 carrying 28 Starlink satellites lifted off at 3:52 p.m. Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40.

The first-stage booster made its 17th flight and made a recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed downrange in the Atlantic.

It was the 25th launch on the Space Coast in 2025, with all but one coming from SpaceX.

The 26th could come later Monday night on what would be SpaceX’s second human spaceflight of the year after Crew-10’s launch earlier this month.

That Falcon 9 is set to launch four people on the Fram2 private mission headed for what would be the first polar orbit for humans in history.

They are set to climb on board the Crew Dragon Resilience, making its fourth trip to space, and lift off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A at 9:46 p.m., with backups late Monday at 11:20 p.m. and early Tuesday at 12:30 a.m. and 2:26 a.m. More backups are available beginning Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning at the same times.

Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron forecasts a 60% chance of good launch conditions at the opening of the window, which improve to 75% by the end of the window. In addition, weather in the ascent corridor for capsule recovery in the event of an emergency abort ranges from low to moderate during the launch window. A 24-hour delay sees weather conditions improve with an 80% chance for good launch conditions improving to 90% by the end of the launch window and no downrange concerns.

 

The first-stage booster is making its sixth flight and will aim for a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic.

Footing the bill for the flight is Chinese-born Chun Wang of Malta, an entrepreneur who made a fortune in cryptocurrency and an avid adventurer. What he’s paying has not been announced, but a similar private mission run by Axiom Space but contracting with SpaceX for use of its spacecraft cost each of its passengers $55 million.

Wang’s three crewmates are friends and fellow adventurers Eric Philips of Australia, Jannicke Mikkelsen of Norway and Rabea Rogge of Germany. Mikkelsen will take the role of mission commander and Philips the role of pilot.

The trip is slated to last from three to five days and the Dragon capsule will return for a splashdown off the coast of California.

The crew plans to perform 22 research studies including taking the first X-ray in space.

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©2025 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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