SpaceX to Launch Starlink 12-23 Mission from Cape Canaveral Tonight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX is set to launch its Starlink 12-23 mission Sunday night from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch is scheduled for 10:09 p.m. EDT (0209 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40.

This launch will mark SpaceX’s 48th Falcon 9 flight of 2025. According to a recent forecast from the 45th Weather Squadron, there is a 90 percent chance of favorable weather for the liftoff. However, meteorologists have noted potential weather complications due to cumulus and anvil clouds.

“By late Sunday, a front approaching from the northwest will siphon moisture ahead of the boundary,” the squadron said. “This could lead to scattered showers and possibly a few thunderstorms across central Florida during the afternoon and evening.

For this mission, SpaceX will utilize the Falcon 9 first stage booster B1077, which will be making its 20th flight. Previously, this booster has supported 12 Starlink missions, three International Space Station flights, and one GPS satellite mission.

About eight minutes after launch, the booster will attempt to land on the droneship ‘Just Read the Instructions’ located in the Atlantic Ocean. This landing will be the 117th for that droneship and the 438th overall for SpaceX boosters.

In addition to tonight’s launch, SpaceX also postponed a Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base initially planned for Sunday night. The launch has been rescheduled for Monday.

Earlier this week, SpaceX successfully lifted off another Falcon 9 rocket for its Starlink 6-74 mission, delivering 28 optimized Starlink V2 Mini satellites.