Rocket Launch Today: Did it launch, where to watch, and what's the actual deal?

SpaceX's Non-Stop Rocket Circus: Are We Even Watching Anymore?

Alright, let’s be real for a second. Another week, another SpaceX launch. Or, more accurately, multiple launches. I swear, Elon Musk’s operation is cranking out rockets faster than a fast-food joint churns out lukewarm fries. We're talking about a veritable rocket launch florida buffet, and honestly, my eyes are starting to glaze over.

They’re hyping up this upcoming Thursday night liftoff from Kennedy Space Center as the "100th orbital rocket of the year from here." One hundred. Think about that for a second. One. Hundred. It's not an achievement; it's a factory line. And what’s it for? Oh, just another spacex starlink mission, because apparently, we don't have enough broadband satellites cluttering low-Earth orbit already. Twenty-nine more of 'em, just for good measure.

I’m picturing some poor guy in Brevard County, Florida, trying to enjoy a quiet evening on the beach. He's probably seen a dozen of these things already this month. The sky lights up, a brilliant streak against the dark, and he just sighs, takes a sip of his lukewarm beer, and mumbles, "There goes another one." That unique photo opportunity they keep pushing? Yeah, it’s about as unique as a selfie with a Starbucks cup these days. You can watch it on floridatoday.com/space, offcourse. Because why experience it in person when you can stream it on your phone, probably powered by one of those very satellites?

The Great Satellite Swarm of '25

This ain’t just about Florida, either. Come Sunday, it's California's turn to get its dose of spacex launch action from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Another Falcon 9, another 28 Starlink satellites. It’s like a cosmic game of whack-a-mole, but instead of moles, it’s internet nodes, and instead of whacking, they’re just... multiplying. They talk about "deploying a batch." Batch? Try an endless stream.

They tell us these satellites are for "internet service to customers around the world," especially in "rural areas." And yeah, sure, that sounds noble. But let’s be brutally honest: how many of these are really going to some remote village, and how many are just padding Musk’s pockets, making sure some yacht in the Caribbean can stream 4K cat videos? I mean, who exactly is asking for 8,700+ satellites? Is that a real demand, or just a byproduct of a billionaire's ambition to paint the sky with his tech? It feels like we're trading one kind of connectivity problem for a whole new kind of orbital junk problem. No, not 'junk' – that's too mild. It's like someone decided the sky needed more digital kudzu, choking out the view for actual astronomy.

And don't even get me started on the FAA lifting restrictions on commercial launches. Suddenly, after a "government shutdown" kerfuffle, it's open season again. Funny how quickly those "safety concerns" disappear when there’s money to be made, isn’t it? They launched No. 99, the Starlink 6-94 mission, just the other day, with barely a peep. The rocket's booster, B1085, making its 12th flight, landed on a drone ship named "A Shortfall of Gravitas." You gotta hand it to them for the irony, but is anyone actually feeling the gravitas anymore? Or are we all just shrugging?

Who's Really Watching This Show?

The USA TODAY Network’s Space Team is "covering them all," apparently with up-to-the-minute updates. And I get it, it’s their job. But I have to wonder, how many actual humans are glued to their screens for every single space rocket launch today? Are we, the public, truly invested in this relentless cadence, or have we been desensitized to the point where a rocket blasting off is just background noise? It's like watching paint dry, if the paint was incredibly expensive and potentially dangerous space debris.

They give you lists of places to watch – beaches, parks, even bridges. They mention sonic booms for the California launch, "brief, thunder-like noises." Great. Just what everyone wants: more noise pollution to go with the light pollution. This isn't groundbreaking exploration anymore; it's glorified logistics. A cosmic delivery service. And while I appreciate the sheer engineering prowess of a Falcon 9 lifting off, I can't help but feel like the wonder has been replaced by the mundane. Then again, maybe I'm the crazy one here, expecting space to be, you know, special. What's the endgame here? A giant orbital billboard? A global game of "spot the Starlink"?

The Thrill Is Gone