Rocket launch in Florida: SpaceX Falcon 9 sends Starlink to orbit as Donald Trump pushes deregulation for space industry
Thursday Morning liftoff and booster landing
Liftoff occurred at 8:29 a.m. from Launch Complex 40, with favorable weather conditions reported by the 45th Weather Squadron. About eight minutes after launch, the first-stage booster landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its 10th flight. The booster has previously supported three Starlink missions, Crew-9, RRT-1, Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1, Fram2, SXM-10, and MTG-S1.
The launch was SpaceX's second in less than 10 hours, following a Starlink mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California earlier the same morning.
Artemis II will launch on its mission around the Moon in early 2026. The crew is training, the rocket is stacking, and all the pieces are coming together.Our experts will be on @Reddit to take your @NASAArtemis questions on Aug. 14 at 1pm ET (1700 UTC): https://t.co/yzlYmjbQki pic.twitter.com/Z98B17fhy1
Countdown timeline and preparations
Final preparations began 38 minutes before liftoff when the launch director gave the 'go' for propellant load. Rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen loading began for the first stage, followed by second-stage fueling 16 minutes before launch. Engine chill began at T-minus seven minutes, and final prelaunch checks occurred in the last minute before ignition.
Brevard County Emergency Management activated its launch operations support team ahead of the mission, and fueling was underway by 8:00 a.m. without any delays.
8/14/2025 5:50 AM | We have activated our launch operations support team in preparation for the SpaceX Falcon9 launch. Window: 6:47 AM - 10:47 AM pic.twitter.com/EslRbIhG3V
New White House order on commercial space rules
The launch took place against the backdrop of a policy change in Washington. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. Department of Transportation to remove outdated and overly restrictive regulations for launch and reentry vehicles.
The order also calls for reducing lengthy environmental reviews, which have previously delayed some missions. While SpaceX was not mentioned by name, the policy is expected to benefit companies like it, along with other private space firms such as Blue Origin.
MAKE SPACE GREAT AGAIN 🇺🇸🚀@POTUS has signed an Executive Order to streamline regulations and foster a competitive commercial space industry, ensuring the United States maintains its leading role in the commercial use of space. pic.twitter.com/EIjv6op3nA
'It is imperative that we build on the far-reaching actions taken by my Administration during my first term to ensure that new space-based industries, space exploration capabilities, and cutting-edge defense systems are pioneered in America,' the statement from the White House read.
Busy week for SpaceX
Alongside Thursday's launch, SpaceX is preparing for its next Starship test flight in Texas, unveiling a new design with larger grid fins to improve booster landings. NASA's Artemis II crew, targeting a February 2026 launch around the Moon, also continued training this week at Kennedy Space Center.
The morning liftoff added to a packed schedule for SpaceX, underscoring both its rapid launch pace and the potential impact of the new U.S. regulatory approach on future missions.
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