Early risers along Florida's Space Coast were treated to a striking sight Thursday morning when a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 5:25 a.m. from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, its fiery trail arcing past a crescent moon in the pre-dawn sky.
The mission, designated 10-42, carried 29 Starlink broadband satellites destined for low Earth orbit, adding more capacity to SpaceX's growing internet constellation.
The flight was powered by booster B1067, the most-flown booster in the SpaceX fleet with 35 previous missions under its belt — a testament to just how routine reusable rocket launches have become at the Cape.
This launch is a reminder of why Cape Canaveral remains one of the best places in the world to witness humanity's ongoing push into space, with early-morning liftoffs offering some of the most photogenic views imaginable against Florida's open coastal skies.
This report is based on photo coverage provided by UPI.
