Falcon 9’s launch failure viewed from KSC press site

Eight of Iridium’s first ten upgraded communications satellites launched in January started providing voice and data relay service ahead of schedule, and SpaceX says it can launch up to 40 more Iridium spacecraft by the end of the year, Iridium officials reported Thursday.

SpaceX says it is temporarily halting some activity on the company’s next-generation Starship program in Florida, allowing teams to focus on building a new Starship test vehicle in Texas.

The mission will the final Falcon 9 flight from California before the end of the year. Liftoff from pad 4 East happened at 5:58:30 p.m. PST (8:58:30 p.m. EST, 0158:30 UTC).