Live updates from SpaceX rocket launch on Starlink mission at Cape Canaveral, Florida
12:22 pm ET
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who launched twice with SpaceX, tours Kennedy Space Center
Rick Neale
Yesterday, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman was interviewed by FLORIDA TODAY at the KSC Press site (https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2026/01/14/isaacman-cape-canaveral-kennedy-space-center-international-space-station-evacuation-artemis-ii/88156160007/). Isaacman has a history of space exploration, having launched into low-Earth orbit twice from the Kennedy Space Center. He was part of the groundbreaking September 2021 Inspiration4 all-civilian-astronaut mission (https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2021/09/15/spacex-inspiration-4-private-space-mission-launches-successfully/8323589002/) and the September 2024 Polaris Dawn mission (https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2024/09/09/polaris-dawn-launch-day-heres-information-on-tuesday-spacex-launch-from-nasa-kennedy-space-center/75142922007/), where he conducted the first commercial spacewalk.
12:11 pm ET
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch prep underway in Brevard County
Rick Neale
Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated their support team for SpaceX's upcoming Falcon 9 launch. This launch will be the fourth orbital rocket launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center in 2026.
11:59 am ET
SpaceX's fourth launch of 2026 from Florida's Space Coast
Rick Neale
The upcoming SpaceX launch marks the fourth orbital rocket launch from Cape Canaveral in 2026. All three previous launches since New Year's Day were Starlink missions. For a comprehensive list of all missions at Cape Canaveral this year, including photo galleries and story links, visit https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2026/01/09/rocket-launch-list-of-all-2026-missions-at-cape-canaveral-sfs-florida-nasa-kennedy-space-center/88107877007/
11:46 am ET
Weather forecast details from the 45th Weather Squadron
Rick Neale
The 45th Weather Squadron has issued a detailed forecast for the SpaceX launch, noting overcast skies at Cape Canaveral. The forecast predicts a complex weather pattern, with periods of impactful weather on Wednesday and Thursday. The boundary that moved through central Florida on Sunday is expected to linger until Wednesday afternoon, when a new low-pressure system pushes it eastward.
11:26 am ET
Wind advisory issued at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Rick Neale
The 45th Weather Squadron has issued a wind advisory for the Space Force installation, anticipating 18-knot steady-state winds until further notice.
