Overview
Falcon 9 Block 5 | BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8)
Go for LaunchSpace Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
August 05, 2026 — 07:42 UTC
Image credit: SpaceX
Livestream
Launch Provider
SpaceX
- Country
- United States of America
- Founded
- 2002
- Leadership
- CEO: Elon Musk
- Launch Record
- 694 success, 15 failed
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.
Mission
BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8)
- Type
- Communications
- Target Orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
AST SpaceMobile’s Block 2 BlueBird satellites are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird Block 1 satellites, required to achieve 24/7 continuous cellular broadband service coverage in the United States, with beams designed to support a capacity of up to 40 MHz, enabling peak data transmission speeds up to 120 Mbps, supporting voice, full data and video applications. The Block 2 BlueBirds, featuring as large as 2400 square foot communications arrays, will be the largest satellites ever commercially deployed in Low Earth orbit once launched. This launch will feature 3 satellites.
Launch Vehicle
Falcon 9 Block 5
- Height
- 70.0 m
- Diameter
- 3.65 m
- Liftoff Mass
- 549.0 t
- Liftoff Thrust
- 7607.0 kN
- Mass to LEO
- 22800.0 kg
- Mass to GTO
- 8300.0 kg
- Reusable
- Yes
- Maiden Flight
- 2018-05-11
- Launch Success
- 612 / 614
- Consecutive Success
- 315
Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.
Booster / First Stage
Core — B1077
- Serial
- B1077
- Status
- active
- Flight Proven
- Yes
- Flights
- 29 (this is #30)
- Landing Attempt
- Yes
- Landing Success
- Unknown
- Landing Site
- A Shortfall of Gravitas (ASOG)
Launch Site
Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) is an installation of the United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45, located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida.
Countdown Sequence
| T-00:38:00 | Launch director verifies go for propellant load |
| T-00:35:00 | Start of propelland loading |
| T-00:35:00 | Start of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage |
| T-00:16:00 | Start of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage |
| T-00:07:00 | Start of engine chilling |
| T-00:01:00 | Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels |
| T-00:01:00 | The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks |
| T-00:00:45 | Launch director verifies go for launch |
| T-00:00:03 | Start of the engine ignition sequence |
| T+00:00:00 | First upwards movement of the rocket |
| T+00:01:13 | Maximum dynamic pressure |
| T+00:02:27 | Cut-off of the main engine |
| T+00:02:30 | Separation of the second stage from the first |
| T+00:02:38 | First start of the second engine |
| T+00:03:15 | Separation of the payload fairing |
| T+00:06:25 | Start of the atmospheric entry burn |
| T+00:06:50 | End of the atmospheric entry burn |
| T+00:08:19 | Start of the first stage landing burn |
| T+00:08:33 | First cut-off of the second engine |
| T+00:08:43 | Landing of the first stage |
| T+00:46:16 | Second start of the second engine |
| T+00:46:21 | Second cut-off of the second engine |
| T+00:53:45 | Final deployment of the payload from the rocket |
| T+00:59:05 | Final deployment of the payload from the rocket |
Latest Updates
Tweaked launch window.
July 29, 2026 — 16:09 UTC
NET August 5.
July 28, 2026 — 12:23 UTC
NET early August.
June 23, 2026 — 13:58 UTC
Added launch.
May 28, 2026 — 23:56 UTC