Rocket Launch Today in Florida: What Happened and Live Coverage

SpaceX's Launch Cadence: Are We There Yet?

SpaceX is on a tear. November 2025 saw a flurry of launches, both from the Space Coast and Vandenberg. We're talking about multiple Falcon 9 rockets lofting Starlink satellites into orbit, with booster landings becoming almost routine. The sheer volume is staggering. Florida alone hit its 100th orbital rocket launch of the year ('Breaking records across the board.' SpaceX launches Florida's 100th rocket of the year a milestone originally projected for the previous year, but delayed). But what does this relentless pace really mean? Are we witnessing a sustainable revolution in space access, or just a temporary bubble fueled by Starlink's insatiable demand?

The Numbers Game: Starlink's Dominance

Let's break down the numbers. Sources indicate that Florida launched its 101st rocket of the year on November 22nd, carrying 29 more Starlink satellites. The 94th SpaceX launch from the Space Coast this year, and the 67th Starlink mission from Florida, brought the total of Starlink satellites launched from that location in 2025 to 1,724. Another launch from Vandenberg added 28 more Starlink satellites. It's a relentless push to build out the constellation.

SpaceX announced earlier this month it now has 8 million customers for the Starlink service. But, let's think about that. How many more satellites will they need to maintain that level of service, and what's the saturation point? And is that 8 million figure active subscribers, or just accounts? I've seen figures like this inflated before (parenthetical clarification: I'm thinking about a certain streaming service's user numbers, which included inactive trial accounts).

Col. Brian Chatman, commander of Space Launch Delta 45, stated that the Space Coast has launched more rockets than the rest of the world combined (excluding Vandenberg). He also anticipates between 100 and 120 launches from Florida in 2026, and potentially up to 300 launches per year by 2035-2040. But those are projections. Projections are not facts. They are, at best, educated guesses.

Beyond the Hype: Sustainability and Risk

The question isn't just about how many rockets are launching, but how. The Falcon 9's reusability is a game-changer, sure. But how many times can a single booster realistically fly before requiring major refurbishment or retirement? We see figures like B1090 making its ninth flight. That's good, but what's the average lifespan across the fleet? What are the maintenance costs associated with these "frequent fliers?" These are the questions that aren't being asked enough.

The fact that a new booster, B1100, just debuted from Vandenberg is interesting. It suggests that even with reusability, there's still a demand for new hardware. Is this because older boosters are reaching their limits, or is SpaceX simply scaling up its operations even further? The data isn't clear.

And what about the environmental impact? All this activity is bound to have consequences. Light pollution, atmospheric emissions... these are real concerns that need to be addressed, not just brushed aside in the rush to colonize space.

The Looming Question: What Happens When Starlink is "Done"?

This is the part of the report that I find genuinely puzzling. All this infrastructure, all these launches... it's almost entirely driven by Starlink. What happens when the constellation is "complete?" Will SpaceX pivot to other services? Will the launch cadence plummet, leaving the Space Coast with excess capacity? Or will they just keep launching more and more satellites to "densify" the network, even if the marginal returns diminish?

Chatman mentions the Space Force and other agencies are working on navigating potential logistical challenges, and planning for the future of space launches. But those plans are vague. We need concrete details, not just optimistic pronouncements. Where are the independent audits of SpaceX's claims? Where's the rigorous analysis of the long-term economic viability of this launch boom?

Is This a "Space Rush" or a Sustainable Business?

The numbers are impressive, no doubt. But I'm not convinced this frenetic pace is sustainable in the long run. It feels more like a "space rush" fueled by a single, dominant player. And like all rushes, it's bound to end eventually.