Unveiling the Cosmos: Your Weekly Roundup of Space Discoveries (Jan. 6)

Launches, science, astronauts: What 2025 holds for space exploration from Florida

As the year draws to a close, it is apparent that despite its impressive feats, this year in space exploration is bound to be surpassed.

A record-breaking launch cadence from Cape Canaveral. SpaceX catching a Starship Super Heavy booster in Texas. The first spacewalk conducted by a private entity. A mission aimed at Europa. The problematic Starliner crewed flight that had to return without its astronauts. And Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket making strides. 2024 was indeed a noteworthy year for space exploration.

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SpaceX launch summary: Live updates from New Year’s Eve Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral

Launch summary: Scroll down to examine live updates from the Tuesday, December 31, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on the Starlink 12-6 mission.

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SpaceX New Year’s Eve launch sets a record-breaking 93rd of 2024 from Florida’s Space Coast

A record-setting year for rocket launches concluded on New Year’s Eve with the Space Coast’s 93rd and final launch of 2024, breaking the brief annual record.

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket in the early hours of Tuesday at 12:39 a.m. EST from pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, deploying 21 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.

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New year, new segment: Significant dates in space exploration history

With the commencement of the new year, we are introducing a new segment.

We will bring you daily insights regarding the history of human space exploration. From Renaissance Italian astronomers to commercial crew launches, there are numerous facts to explore and share.

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SpaceX postpones Thuraya-4 launch attempt to Friday night from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

First launch of 2025: SpaceX is now aiming for a four-hour time frame that begins at 8:27 p.m. EST Friday — a day later than originally expected — to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The Falcon 9 will place the Space42 Thuraya-4 geostationary communications satellite into orbit after lifting off from Launch Complex 40.

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On this date: USSR launches Luna 1 probe toward the moon

On this date, January 2, 1959, the Soviet Union dispatched Luna 1. The probe would come within 3,725.5 miles of the moon but did not impact the natural satellite due to a malfunction in the control system of the launch vehicle. The probe entered a solar orbit situated between Mars and Earth.

It was the first artificial object to achieve escape velocity from Earth’s gravity.

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Blue Origin’s New Glenn: How it stacks up against other rockets launching from Cape Canaveral

Presently scheduled for a launch no earlier than 1 a.m. Wednesday according to the Space Coast Office of Tourism, Blue Origin’s brand new orbital rocket guarantees an impressive performance on its launch. But how does this new heavy lifter compare?

Blue Origin’s gigantic New Glenn rocket stands at an imposing 320 feet — roughly equivalent to a 32-story skyscraper. Nonetheless, it is eclipsed by SpaceX’s Starship, which currently launches from Texas and is expected to launch from Kennedy Space Center in the foreseeable future. Starship towers above all previous rockets in history at an astonishing 395 feet tall.

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SpaceX launch summary: Live updates from Thuraya 4 mission Friday from Cape Canaveral

Launch summary: Scroll down to review live updates from the Friday, January 3, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on the Thuraya 4 mission.

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SpaceX launches Thuraya 4 satellite for UAE-based company Friday night from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX conducted the inaugural rocket launch of 2025 from Florida’s Space Coast under clear skies on Friday night, sending the Thuraya 4 satellite into geostationary orbit for a telecommunications firm located in the United Arab Emirates.

The 229-foot-tall Falcon 9 rocket took flight at 8:27 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force

Station.

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Where to watch a launch in Florida: How to witness Blue Origin New Glenn, SpaceX, or ULA

Visitors to the Cape Canaveral region often find themselves questioning one thing during a rocket launch: Where should I gaze?

While most of these launches are optimally observed from Titusville, the beach also provides excellent views. Naturally, as the rocket ascends higher, it becomes impossible to miss from anywhere on the Space Coast. The Space Coast is predominantly influenced by SpaceX’s launches. However, with Blue Origin’s enormous New Glenn poised to join the launch lineup, prepare for some breathtaking launch observations. The Blue Origin launch pad is ideally situated for a magnificent view of the entire takeoff.

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What to know: The second Florida SpaceX rocket launch of 2025 scheduled for Monday afternoon

The second Florida launch of 2025 is anticipated to illuminate the sky on Monday.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has designated the mission as Starlink 6-71. As of Sunday, SpaceX has confirmed they are aiming for a three-hour launch window, beginning at 12:21 p.m.. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will take flight from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40.

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On this date: Nixon orders NASA to establish space shuttle program

On January 5, 1970, President Richard Nixon formally directed NASA to develop the space shuttle program.

“I have made the decision today that the United States should commence immediately with the development of a completely new type of space transportation system aimed at transforming the space frontier of the 1970s into familiar territory, easily accessible for human endeavor in the 1980s and ’90s. This system will focus on a space vehicle capable of shuttling repeatedly from Earth to orbit and back. It will revolutionize near space transportation by making it routine,” Nixon stated.

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‘Remarkable piece of technology’: Former NASA head anticipates Blue Origin New Glenn launch

Amazon entrepreneur Jeff Bezos launched Blue Origin in September 2000, shortly after the Y2K anxiety. Now, nearly 25 years later — and years after competitor SpaceX ascended to dominate the global commercial space sector — Bezos’ firm is on the verge of launching a rocket from Florida’s Space Coast.

Blue Origin seems poised to announce a launch date for its milestone New Glenn inaugural flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Constructed at a futuristic factory in Merritt Island, the heavy-lift rocket stands over 320 feet tall; the first-stage booster aims to land on a drone ship; and the boosters are designed to support at least 25 missions.

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On this date: Soviets begin return journey to Venus

On January 6, 1969, the Soviet Union deployed the Venera 5 spacecraft from its Earth Orbit parking space just hours after taking off from the terrestrial surface.

Venera 5 was part of a continuous mission aimed at exploring Earth’s sister planet, Venus. Venera 5 successfully penetrated Venus’ atmosphere and relayed data back to Earth, offering significant insights regarding the planet’s atmosphere and surface conditions.

Read the complete article here.

For the latest updates from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, check out floridatoday.com/space.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Reach Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1