NEW JERSEY – Night owls and early risers across New Jersey may have a chance to witness another spectacular SpaceX rocket launch early Tuesday morning as a Falcon 9 lifts off from Cape Canaveral carrying a new batch of Starlink internet satellites.
The Starlink Group 10-49 mission is scheduled to launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch window opens at 1:49 a.m. EDT Tuesday, and under favorable weather conditions, the rocket’s bright exhaust plume could be visible low above the southeastern horizon from portions of New Jersey and much of the East Coast.
Launch will carry 29 Starlink satellites into orbit
SpaceX will use a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket powered by booster B1067 to deploy 29 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit as the company continues expanding its global broadband internet constellation.
Following stage separation, the first-stage booster is scheduled to land aboard the autonomous droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, allowing SpaceX to recover and reuse the rocket.
- Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch at 1:49 a.m. EDT Tuesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- New Jersey residents may see the rocket low in the southeastern sky shortly after liftoff if skies remain clear.
- The mission will deploy 29 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into orbit before the booster lands on a SpaceX droneship.
Visibility in New Jersey depends heavily on cloud cover and atmospheric conditions. If skies remain mostly clear, observers looking toward the southeast may notice a bright moving light climbing into the sky several minutes after liftoff.
How to watch the launch live
SpaceX is expected to provide live coverage of the mission through its official X account beginning shortly before launch.
Real-time launch tracking, countdown timers and trajectory information are also available through the Next Spaceflight platform, which monitors launches around the world.
Because the launch occurs before sunrise, the rocket’s exhaust can sometimes be illuminated by sunlight at higher altitudes, creating a glowing plume that has been mistaken for everything from comets to unidentified flying objects during previous launches.
Weather will determine visibility
The National Weather Service is forecasting mostly clear skies across much of New Jersey overnight into Tuesday morning, increasing the chances that residents could catch a glimpse of the Falcon 9 if the launch proceeds on schedule.
As with all rocket launches, the mission remains subject to technical holds or weather-related delays at Cape Canaveral.
What time is the SpaceX launch?
The launch window opens at 1:49 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Aug. 25, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Will people in New Jersey be able to see it?
Possibly. If skies are clear and the launch occurs on time, residents may be able to see the Falcon 9 low above the southeastern horizon several minutes after liftoff.
Where can I watch the launch live?
Live coverage will be available on the official SpaceX X account, with countdowns and tracking information also available through Next Spaceflight.
Sources: SpaceX, Next Spaceflight, NASASpaceflight
