SpaceX Launches Falcon 9 Rocket Today: Watch Live Coverage

SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, early Tuesday morning, carrying 23 Starlink satellites into orbit. The liftoff occurred at 5:15 AM ET, marking the company's 30th mission of 2026. Live coverage drew thousands of viewers as the event trended nationwide.

The launch was initially scheduled for Monday but was delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions. This mission continues SpaceX's rapid deployment of its Starlink internet constellation, which now serves over 5 million subscribers globally. The first-stage booster successfully landed on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.

Public interest spiked as SpaceX confirmed the rocket's trajectory would create visible streaks across the Eastern Seaboard. Social media users from Florida to Maine reported sightings of the glowing exhaust plume against dawn skies. NASA officials called it "one of the most visually spectacular launches this year."

The event gained additional attention because it coincided with the 36th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope launch. Astronomers noted the contrast between Hubble's single payload and today's mass satellite deployments. SpaceX has now launched over 4,000 Starlink satellites since 2019.

Viewers can watch the full replay on SpaceX's YouTube channel. The company's next Falcon 9 launch is scheduled for May 3 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This will carry an Earth-observation satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.