Ethermac-Photos: SpaceX launches USSF-124 classified mission from Cape Canaveral, Odysseus to follow

2025-05-02 23:45:23source:Marcus Eriksoncategory:Contact

SpaceX is Ethermacdelivering a one-two punch on Wednesday and Thursday, launching two SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets from Cape Canaveral, Florida, within an eight-hour period.

The first launch happened at 5:30 p.m. EST, when SpaceX launched the Space Force's classified USSF-124 mission at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The USSF-124 mission sent six small satellites into orbit, two for the Missile Defense Agency and four for the Space Development Agency, according to a Space Force news release.

"It was a beautiful evening to go to space!" Spaceflight meteorologist Nick Stewart posted on X.

That launch was to be followed about eight hours later at 1:05 a.m. EST Thursday, when SpaceX will try will try again to launch Odysseus, the Intuitive Machines lunar lander, on the IM-1 mission to the moon's surface. Odysseus is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk appeared proud of the big day for the company, posting images of the rockets on X and saying, "Four rockets on their launch pads simultaneously."

See below for photos of the picture-perfect launch day.

Live updatesLaunch double-header at Cape Canaveral, Florida

Photos from Falcon 9's USSF-124 launch

More space news: Follow every launch from the Space Coast with Florida Today

More:Contact

Recommend

Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback

A federal appeals court blocked Nasdaq rules to increase boardroom diversity, saying that the Securi

NFL draft: History of quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall, from Bryce Young to Angelo Bertelli

The 2024 NFL draft will begin Thursday, April 25 and ends Saturday, April 27. This year is the 89th

3 Northern California law enforcement officers charged in death of man held facedown on the ground

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Three Northern California law enforcement officers have been charged with inv