A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch the Bandwagon-4 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 this Sunday at 1:09 a.m., during a launch window that runs from 1:00 to 1:20 a.m. This mission marks the third journey for the first-stage booster, which is expected to return to Landing Zone 2 at Canaveral, possibly generating a sonic boom that could be heard across Central Florida.
Residents in Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Indian River, Seminole, Volusia, Polk, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties may experience one or more sonic booms about eight minutes post-launch due to the booster’s return. Earlier this year, sonic booms from other SpaceX launches echoed as far as Lake County, amplifying the anticipation and concerns regarding the increasing frequency of such occurrences.
The Falcon 9’s upcoming flight will carry a diverse array of 18 payloads for various customers, including KOREA ADD, Exolaunch, Fergani, Tomorrow Companies Inc., Starcloud, and Vast. Notably, this launch marks the 91st mission from the Space Coast this year, just two shy of tying the record of 93 launches set in 2024.
With November shaping up to be a particularly busy month for launches, there are already eight missions scheduled. Following this Falcon 9 mission, two additional launches are planned for Wednesday: another Falcon 9 mission focused on Starlink and a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission designated for the ViaSat-3 F2 project, both aiming for evening liftoffs.
SpaceX’s ongoing efforts are expected to contribute to a robust launch schedule, showcasing advancements in space technology while highlighting the growing impact these missions have on local communities.