Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox launch pad Template:Cape Canaveral launch pad map Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) is the first of Launch Complex 39's three launch pads, located at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida. The pad, along with Launch Complex 39B, was built in the 1960s to accommodate the Saturn V launch vehicle, and has been used to support NASA crewed space flight missions, including the historic Apollo 11 moon landing and the Space Shuttle. Since 2014 the site has been leased by SpaceX and supports launches of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HistoryEdit
Apollo programEdit
In 1961, U.S. President Kennedy proposed to the U.S. Congress the goal of landing a man on the Moon by the end of the decade. Congressional approval led to the launch of the Apollo program, which required a massive expansion of NASA operations, including an expansion of launch operations from the Cape to adjacent Merritt Island to the north and west.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
First named Launch Complex 39C,<ref>Launch Complex 39.</ref> Launch Complex 39A was designed to handle launches of the Saturn V rocket, the largest and most powerful launch vehicle, which would propel the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon. The first launch from Launch Complex 39A occurred in 1967 with the first Saturn V launch, which carried the uncrewed Apollo 4 spacecraft. The second uncrewed launch, Apollo 6, also used Pad 39A. With the exception of Apollo 10, which used Pad 39B (due to the "all-up" testing resulting in a 2-month turnaround period), all crewed Apollo-Saturn V launches, commencing with Apollo 8, used Pad 39A.
Skylab programEdit
Launch Complex 39A was used for the uncrewed launch of the Skylab space station on May 14, 1973. This used a modified Saturn V originally built for the cancelled Apollo 18 mission. The subsequent Skylab crewed missions launched from Launch Complex 39B using Saturn IB launch vehicles.
Space ShuttleEdit
With the advent of the Space Shuttle program in the early 1980s, the original structure of the launch pads were remodeled for the needs of the Space Shuttle. The first usage of Pad 39A for the Space Shuttle came in 1979, when Enterprise was used to check the facilities prior to the first operational launch. Since then, Pad 39A hosted all Space Shuttle launches until January 1986, when Template:OV would become the first to launch from pad 39B during the ill-fated STS-51-L mission.
During the launch of Discovery on STS-124 on May 31, 2008, the pad at LC-39A suffered extensive damage, in particular to the concrete trench used to deflect the SRBs' flames.<ref name="damage">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The subsequent investigation found that the damage was the result of carbonation of epoxy and corrosion of steel anchors that held the refractory bricks in the trench in place. The damage had been exacerbated by the fact that hydrochloric acid is an exhaust by-product of the solid rocket boosters.<ref>Template:Cite journal Template:PD-notice</ref>
Just as for the first 24 shuttle flights, LC-39A supported the final shuttle flights, starting with STS-117 in June 2007 and ending with the retirement of the Shuttle fleet in July 2011. In total, Pad 39A hosted 94 launches from 1967 to 2011, including 12 Saturn V rockets and 82 space shuttles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Prior to the SpaceX lease agreement, the pad remained as it was when Atlantis launched on the final shuttle mission on July 8, 2011, complete with a mobile launcher platform. The pad was originally going to be modified for the Ares V rocket for the Constellation program in the mid 2010s, looking identical to LC-39B with the three lightning towers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Ares I was planned to launch on the adjacent 39B but in 2010, the Constellation program was cancelled.
SpaceXEdit
Talks for use of the pad were underway between NASA and Space Florida—the State of Florida's economic development agency—as early as 2011, but no deal materialized by 2012, and NASA then pursued other options for removing the pad from the federal government inventory.<ref name=nsf20141117/>
By early 2013, NASA publicly announced that it would allow commercial launch providers to lease LC-39A,<ref>"NASA not abandoning LC-39A" January 17, 2013 Template:Webarchive, accessed February 7, 2013.</ref> and followed that, in May 2013, with a formal solicitation for proposals for commercial use of the pad.<ref name=nsw20130520>NASA requests proposals for commercial use of Pad 39A Template:Webarchive, NewSpace Watch, May 20, 2013, accessed May 21, 2013.</ref> There were two competing bids for the commercial use of the launch complex.<ref name=leasedoc/> SpaceX submitted a bid for exclusive use of the launch complex, while Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin submitted a bid for shared non-exclusive use of the complex, so that the launchpad would handle multiple vehicles, and costs could be shared over the long-term. One potential shared user in the Blue Origin plan was United Launch Alliance.<ref name=os20130818>Template:Cite news</ref> Prior to the end of the bid period, and prior to any public announcement by NASA of the results of the process, Blue Origin filed a protest with the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) "over what it says is a plan by NASA to award an exclusive commercial lease to SpaceX for use of mothballed space shuttle launch pad 39A".<ref name=pa20130910/> NASA had planned to complete the bid award and have the pad transferred by October 1, 2013, but the protest "will delay any decision until the GAO reaches a decision, expected by mid-December".<ref name=pa20130910>Template:Cite news</ref> On December 12, 2013, the GAO denied the protest and sided with NASA, which argued that the solicitation contained no preference on the use of the facility as multi-use or single-use. "The [solicitation] document merely asks bidders to explain their reasons for selecting one approach instead of the other and how they would manage the facility".<ref name=pa20131212>Template:Cite news</ref>
On December 13, 2013, NASA announced that it had selected SpaceX as the new commercial tenant.<ref name=padnego>Template:Cite news</ref> On April 14, 2014, SpaceX signed a lease agreement<ref name=flortoda>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> that gave it a 20-year exclusive lease on LC-39A.<ref name=leasedoc>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Template:PD-notice</ref> SpaceX planned to launch their launch vehicles from the pad and build a new hangar nearby.<ref name=leasedoc/><ref name=flortoda/><ref name=tss20140321>Template:Cite AV media</ref> Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, stated that he wanted to shift most of SpaceX's NASA launches to LC-39A, including commercial cargo and crew missions to the International Space Station.<ref name=padnego/><ref name="Clark">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ModificationsEdit
In 2015, SpaceX built the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) just outside the perimeter of the existing launch pad in order to house both the Falcon 9 and the Falcon Heavy rockets, and their associated hardware and payloads, during preparation for flight.<ref name=sfn20150225>Template:Cite news</ref> Both types of launch vehicles are transported from the HIF to the launch pad aboard a Transporter Erector (TE) which rides on rails up the former crawlerway path.<ref name=nsf20141117/><ref name=sfn20150225/> Also in 2015, the launch mount for the Falcon Heavy was constructed on Pad 39A over the existing infrastructure.<ref name=cs20140414/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The work on both the HIF building and the pad was substantially complete by late 2015.<ref name=nsf20151008>Template:Cite news</ref> A rollout test of the new Transporter Erector was conducted in November 2015.<ref name=nsf20151109>Template:Cite news</ref>
In February 2016, SpaceX indicated that they had "completed and activated Launch Complex 39A",<ref name=sn20160204/> but still had more work yet to do to support crewed flights. SpaceX originally planned to be ready to accomplish the first launch at pad 39A—of a Falcon Heavy—as early as 2015,<ref name=ft20140414>Template:Cite news</ref> as they had architects and engineers working on the new design and modifications since 2013.<ref name=sfn20140415>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=cs20140414>Template:Cite news</ref> By late 2014, a preliminary date for a wet dress rehearsal of the Falcon Heavy was set for no earlier than July 1, 2015.<ref name=nsf20141117>Template:Cite news</ref> Due to a failure in a June 2015 Falcon 9 launch, SpaceX delayed launching the Falcon Heavy in order to focus on the Falcon 9's failure investigation and its return to flight.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In early 2016, considering the busy Falcon 9 launch manifest, it became unclear if the Falcon Heavy would be the first vehicle to launch from Pad 39A, or if one or more Falcon 9 missions would precede a Falcon Heavy launch.<ref name=sn20160204>Template:Cite news</ref> In the following months, the Falcon Heavy launch was delayed multiple times and eventually pushed back to February 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
SpaceX used the former Fixed Service Structure (FSS) of the Pad 39A launch towers and initially intended to extend it above its former Template:Convert height. It did not need the Rotating Service Structure (RSS)<ref name="nsf20141117" /> and removed it beginning in February 2016.<ref name="ses20141021">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
NASA removed the Orbiter Servicing Arm—with intent to use the space later to build a museum—and the white room by which astronauts entered the Space Shuttle.<ref name="cs20140414" /> SpaceX indicated in late 2014 that additional levels to the FSS would not be added in the near term.<ref name="nsf20141117" /> SpaceX planned to eventually add at least two additional levels to the FSS, to provide crew access for the Dragon 2 launches.<ref name="nsf20140728">Template:Cite news</ref>
In August 2018, SpaceX's Crew Access Arm (CAA) was installed on a new level, which was built at the necessary height to enter the Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket. It very closely resembles jetways that are frequently found at airports.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In September 2018, the refurbished Space Shuttle Emergency Egress System was raised to this new level.
SpaceX added a crew gantry access arm and white room to allow for crew and cargo ingress to the vehicle. The existing Space Shuttle evacuation slide-wire basket system was re-purposed to provide a safe emergency egress for the Dragon crew in the event of an emergency on the pad that does not necessitate using the Crew Dragon's launch abort system".<ref name="sx20150227">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Template:PD-notice</ref>
In 2019, SpaceX began substantial modification to LC 39A in order to begin work on phase 1 of the construction to prepare the facility to launch prototypes of the large Template:Cvt-diameter methalox reusable rocket—Starship—from a launch stand, which would fly from 39A on suborbital test flight trajectories with six or fewer Raptor engines. A second phase of the construction was planned for 2020 to build a much more capable launch mount capable of launching the entire Starship launch vehicle,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> powered by 33 Raptor engines and producing a total of Template:Cvt liftoff thrust when departing 39A.<ref name="teslarati20192809">Template:Cite news</ref>
In August 2019, SpaceX submitted an Environmental Assessment for the Starship launch system at Kennedy Space Center.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Template:PD-notice</ref> This document included plans for the construction of additional structures at LC-39A to support Starship launches, including a dedicated pad, liquid methane tanks, and a Landing Zone.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These are separate from the existing structures that support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches.
In December 2021, SpaceX started construction of a Starship orbital launch pad on the site.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>
On June 16, 2022, the first tower segment for the Starship orbital pad arrived at LC-39A.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> Stacking began on June 21, and the Starship launch mount was also under construction.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2024, an additional Environmental Impact Statement was underway to support an annual launch cadence of 40+ Starship launches.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Launch historyEdit
The first SpaceX launch from pad 39A was SpaceX CRS-10 on February 19, 2017, using a Falcon 9 launch vehicle; it was the company's 10th cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the first uncrewed launch from 39A since Skylab.
While Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) was undergoing reconstruction after the loss of the AMOS-6 satellite on September 1, 2016, all SpaceX's east coast launches were from Pad 39A until SLC-40 became operational again in December 2017. These included the May 1, 2017, launch of NROL-76, the first SpaceX mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, with a classified payload.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On February 6, 2018, Pad 39A hosted the successful liftoff of the Falcon Heavy on its maiden launch, carrying Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster car to space;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the first flight of the human-rated spacecraft Template:ComV; (Demo-1) took place there on March 2, 2019.
The second Falcon Heavy flight, carrying the Arabsat-6A communications satellite for Arabsat of Saudi Arabia, successfully launched on April 11, 2019. The satellite is to provide Ku-band and Ka-band communication services for the Middle East and northern Africa, as well as for South Africa. The launch was notable as it marked the first time that SpaceX was able to successfully soft-land all three of the reusable booster stages, which were to be refurbished for future launches.<ref name="launch schedule">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Crew Dragon Demo-2 test flight launched with astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley from Launch Complex 39A on 30 May 2020, and docked to pressurised mating adapter PMA-2 on the Harmony module of the ISS on 31 May 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="M20-050">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Template:PD-notice</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Template:PD-notice</ref> The first operational Commercial Crew mission Crew-1 was launched on November 15, 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
SpaceX launched the IM-1 robotic lander for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program on 15 February 2024,<ref name="nasa-24-031">Template:Cite press release</ref> returning the pad to Lunar missions since the end of the Apollo program. The Starlink Group 6-56 mission launched on 8 May 2024, and was the Falcon 9's 83rd launch from LC-39A. That milestone made the rocket family the pad leader for launches from that launch complex, surpassing the Space Shuttle's 82 launches.<ref name = "83 F9 Launches from LC-39A"> Template:Cite news</ref>
Current statusEdit
The private American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company SpaceX has been the lease holder as of April 14, 2014.<ref name=flortoda/> The terms of the agreement gave SpaceX a 20-year exclusive lease to LC-39A.<ref name=leasedoc/> SpaceX has launched their launch vehicles from the pad<ref name=leasedoc/><ref name=flortoda/><ref name=tss20140321/> since the launch of the SpaceX CRS-10 Dragon resupply mission in 2017,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and crewed missions since the launch of the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission in 2020.<ref name="bloomberg-20200530">Template:Cite news</ref> Currently Pad 39A is used to host launches of astronauts on the crewed-version of the Dragon space capsule in a public–private partnership with NASA.<ref name="sfn20140415" />
SpaceX assembles its launch vehicles horizontally in a hangar near the pad and transports them horizontally to the pad before erecting the vehicle to vertical for the launch.<ref name="sfn20140415" /> For military missions from Pad 39A, payloads are vertically integrated, as that is required per a launch contract with the United States Air Force.<ref name="sfn20140415" /><ref name="nsf20140728" />
Launch historyEdit
StatisticsEdit
{{#invoke:Chart | bar chart | float = center | width = 750 | height = 350 | stack = 1 | group 1 = 0:0:1:2:3: 1:2:2:1:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0: 0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0:0 | group 2 = 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:2:3:4:5: 9:1:0:0:0: 3:4:4:1:4: 4:1:6:3:0: 3:3:3:1:0: 0:0:3:4:5: 3:3:0:0:0: 0:0: 0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0:0 | group 3 = 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:12:2:1: 11:12:17:8:24:14 | group 4 = 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0: 0:1:2: 0:0:1:5:2:0 | colors = Grey : Orange : SteelBlue : Gold | group names = Saturn V : Space Shuttle : Falcon 9 : Falcon Heavy | x legends = 1965 ::::: 1970 ::::: 1975 ::::: 1980 ::::: 1985 ::::: 1990 ::::: 1995 ::::: 2000 ::::: 2005 ::::: 2010 ::::: 2015 ::::: 2020 ::::: 2025 | units suffix = _launches | y tick marks = 5 }}
List of launchesEdit
Apollo and Apollo ApplicationsEdit
All flights operated by NASA.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Serial number | Mission | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 November 1967 | 12:00 | Saturn V | SA-501 | Apollo 4 | Template:Success | Maiden flight of the Saturn V and first launch from LC-39A. |
| 2 | 4 April 1968 | 12:00 | Saturn V | SA-502 | Apollo 6 | Template:Partial failure | Pogo oscillations caused a failure of two J-2s in the S-II and a relight of the S-IVB, severely changing the planned mission trajectory of the Apollo CSM. |
| 3 | 21 December 1968 | 12:51 | Saturn V | SA-503 | Apollo 8 | Template:Success | First crewed launch of the Saturn V and first crewed launch from LC-39A. First crewed launch going beyond low Earth orbit, inserting into Lunar orbit. |
| 4 | 3 March 1969 | 16:00 | Saturn V | SA-504 | Apollo 9 | Template:Success | First launch of the Saturn V in its full Apollo configuration, flying with an Apollo Lunar Module. |
| 5 | 16 July 1969 | 13:32 | Saturn V | SA-506 | Apollo 11 | Template:Success | First fully operational Apollo flight. First crewed landing on the Moon. |
| 6 | 14 November 1969 | 16:22 | Saturn V | SA-507 | Apollo 12 | Template:Success | A lightning strike caused the shutdown of the CSM's computer systems, but was successfully restarted mid-flight. |
| 7 | 11 April 1970 | 19:13 | Saturn V | SA-508 | Apollo 13 | Template:Partial failure | Launch was a success, but mission had to be aborted following a failure in the CSM's service module during the transfer phase. |
| 8 | 31 January 1971 | 21:03 | Saturn V | SA-509 | Apollo 14 | Template:Success | |
| 9 | 26 July 1971 | 13:34 | Saturn V | SA-510 | Apollo 15 | Template:Success | First flight of the extended Apollo missions. |
| 10 | 16 April 1972 | 17:54 | Saturn V | SA-511 | Apollo 16 | Template:Success | Second flight of the extended Apollo missions. |
| 11 | 7 December 1972 | 05:33 | Saturn V | SA-512 | Apollo 17 | Template:Success | Last crewed launch of the Saturn V, and last of the extended Apollo missions. Most recent crewed flight to the Moon. |
| 12 | 14 May 1973 | 17:30 | Saturn V | SA-513 | Skylab | Template:Success | Last flight of the Saturn V. The S-IVB was replaced with the space station module, while the S-II was modified to make orbit. Payload was extensively damaged during ascent, leading to the loss of the station's micrometeoroid shield and a solar panel. |
Space ShuttleEdit
All flights operated by NASA.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Shuttle | Mission | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 12 April 1981 | 12:00 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-1 | Template:Success | Maiden flight of the Space Shuttle program, and maiden flight of Space Shuttle Columbia. First Space Shuttle orbital test. First shuttle landing at Edwards. |
| 14 | 12 November 1981 | 15:10 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-2 | Template:Success | Second orbital test. |
| 15 | 22 March 1982 | 16:00 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-3 | Template:Success | Third orbital test. Only shuttle landing at White Sands. |
| 16 | 27 June 1982 | 15:00 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-4 | Template:Success | Fourth and final Space Shuttle orbital test. First flight for the Department of Defense. |
| 17 | 11 November 1982 | 12:19 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-5 | Template:Success | |
| 18 | 4 April 1983 | 18:30 | Space Shuttle | Challenger | STS-6 | Template:Success | Maiden flight of Space Shuttle Challenger. Launch and deployment of TDRS-1 (as TDRS-A). First launch for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. |
| 19 | 18 June 1983 | 11:33 | Space Shuttle | Challenger | STS-7 | Template:Success | First crewed American flight with a female astronaut, Sally Ride. |
| 20 | 30 August 1983 | 06:32 | Space Shuttle | Challenger | STS-8 | Template:Success | First night launch and night landing of a Shuttle. First crewed flight with an African-American astronaut, Guion Bluford. |
| 21 | 28 November 1983 | 16:00 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-9 | Template:Success | First mission using Spacelab. |
| 22 | 3 February 1984 | 13:00 | Space Shuttle | Challenger | STS-41-B | Template:Success | First shuttle landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility. |
| 23 | 6 April 1984 | 13:58 | Space Shuttle | Challenger | STS-41-C | Template:Success | |
| 24 | 30 August 1984 | 12:41 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-41-D | Template:Success | Maiden flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. |
| 25 | 5 October 1984 | 11:03 | Space Shuttle | Challenger | STS-41-G | Template:Success | |
| 26 | 8 November 1984 | 12:15 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-51-A | Template:Success | |
| 27 | 24 January 1985 | 19:50 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-51-C | Template:Success | DoD mission. |
| 28 | 12 April 1985 | 13:59 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-51-D | Template:Success | |
| 29 | 29 April 1985 | 16:02 | Space Shuttle | Challenger | STS-51-B | Template:Success | |
| 30 | 17 June 1985 | 11:33 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-51-G | Template:Success | |
| 31 | 29 July 1985 | 22:00 | Space Shuttle | Challenger | STS-51-F | Template:Success | Mission was ultimately a success, but a faulty temperature reading caused an early shutdown of one of the RS-25s, forcing an abort to orbit. Insertion was thus much lower than planned altitude. |
| 32 | 27 August 1985 | 10:58 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-51-I | Template:Success | |
| 33 | 3 October 1985 | 15:15 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-51-J | Template:Success | Maiden flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis. DoD mission. |
| 34 | 30 October 1985 | 17:00 | Space Shuttle | Challenger | STS-61-A | Template:Success | Final successful flight of Space Shuttle Challenger. |
| 35 | 27 November 1985 | 00:29 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-61-B | Template:Success | |
| 36 | 12 January 1986 | 11:55 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-61-C | Template:Success | Last Space Shuttle flight before the Challenger disaster. Carried Senator Bill Nelson onboard. |
| 37 | 9 January 1990 | 12:35 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-32 | Template:Success | First flight from 39A following the Space Shuttle's return to flight in 1988. |
| 38 | 28 February 1990 | 07:50 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-36 | Template:Success | DoD mission. Shuttle mission with the highest inclination, at 62°. Originally planned to launch from SLC-6 at Vandenberg, prior to the West Coast shuttle program's cancellation post-Challenger. |
| 39 | 15 November 1990 | 23:48 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-38 | Template:Success | DoD mission. |
| 40 | 28 April 1991 | 11:33 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-39 | Template:Success | DoD mission. |
| 41 | 2 August 1991 | 15:02 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-43 | Template:Success | Launch and deployment of TDRS-5 (as TDRS-E) for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. |
| 42 | 12 September 1991 | 23:11 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-48 | Template:Success | Launch and deployment of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite. |
| 43 | 24 November 1991 | 23:44 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-44 | Template:Success | DoD mission. |
| 44 | 22 January 1992 | 14:52 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-42 | Template:Success | |
| 45 | 24 March 1992 | 13:13 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-45 | Template:Success | |
| 46 | 25 June 1992 | 16:12 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-50 | Template:Success | |
| 47 | 2 December 1992 | 13:24 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-53 | Template:Success | Last flight for the DoD. |
| 48 | 26 April 1993 | 14:50 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-55 | Template:Success | |
| 49 | 3 February 1994 | 12:10 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-60 | Template:Success | First shuttle mission to fly with a Russian cosmonaut, Sergei Krikalev. |
| 50 | 9 April 1994 | 11:05 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-59 | Template:Success | First flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour from 39A. |
| 51 | 8 July 1994 | 04:43 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-65 | Template:Success | |
| 52 | 30 September 1994 | 11:16 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-68 | Template:Success | |
| 53 | 2 March 1995 | 06:38 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-67 | Template:Success | |
| 54 | 27 June 1995 | 19:32 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-71 | Template:Success | First Shuttle docking with the Mir space station. |
| 55 | 7 September 1995 | 15:09 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-69 | Template:Success | |
| 56 | 12 November 1995 | 12:30 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-74 | Template:Success | Docking with Mir. Launch and delivery of the Mir Docking Module to the station. |
| 57 | 16 September 1996 | 08:54 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-79 | Template:Success | Docking with Mir. |
| 58 | 11 February 1997 | 08:55 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-82 | Template:Success | Servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope. |
| 59 | 4 April 1997 | 19:20 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-83 | Template:Success | Mission cut short because of a fuel cell issue. |
| 60 | 15 May 1997 | 08:07 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-84 | Template:Success | Docking with Mir. |
| 61 | 1 July 1997 | 18:02 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-94 | Template:Success | Reflight of STS-83. |
| 62 | 7 August 1997 | 14:41 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-85 | Template:Success | |
| 63 | 25 September 1997 | 14:34 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-86 | Template:Success | Docking with Mir. |
| 64 | 23 January 1998 | 02:48 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-89 | Template:Success | Docking with Mir. |
| 65 | 2 June 1998 | 22:06 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-91 | Template:Success | Last shuttle mission to Mir. |
| 66 | 4 December 1998 | 08:35 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-88 | Template:Success | First flight to the International Space Station and first ISS assembly flight. Added the Unity Node 1 module. |
| 67 | 11 February 2000 | 16:43 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-99 | Template:Success | |
| 68 | 19 May 2000 | 10:11 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-101 | Template:Success | Docking with the ISS. |
| 69 | 11 October 2000 | 23:17 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-92 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Z1 truss. |
| 70 | 7 February 2001 | 23:13 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-98 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Destiny US Lab module. |
| 71 | 19 April 2001 | 18:40 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-100 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Mobile Servicing System. |
| 72 | 10 August 2001 | 21:10 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-105 | Template:Success | Docking with the ISS. |
| 73 | 1 March 2002 | 11:22 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-109 | Template:Success | Servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope. Final successful flight of Space Shuttle Columbia. |
| 74 | 5 June 2002 | 21:22 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-111 | Template:Success | Docking with the ISS. |
| 75 | 24 November 2002 | 00:49 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-113 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the P1 truss. Last shuttle flight before the Columbia disaster. |
| 76 | 16 January 2003 | 15:39 | Space Shuttle | Columbia | STS-107 | Template:Failure | Launch and orbital operations were a success, but damage to the thermal protection system during ascent resulted in breakup during reentry, causing the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. |
| 77 | 8 June 2007 | 23:38 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-117 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the S3/S4 truss and solar arrays. First launch from 39A following the shuttle's return to service in 2005. |
| 78 | 8 August 2007 | 23:36 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-118 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the S5 truss. |
| 79 | 23 October 2007 | 15:38 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-120 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Harmony Node 2 module. |
| 80 | 7 February 2008 | 19:45 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-122 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Columbus European Laboratory module. |
| 81 | 11 March 2008 | 06:28 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-123 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Experiment Logistics Module-Pressurized Section and Dextre. |
| 82 | 31 May 2008 | 21:02 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-124 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Kibō Japanese Experiment Module. |
| 83 | 15 November 2008 | 00:55 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-126 | Template:Success | Docking with the ISS. |
| 84 | 15 March 2009 | 23:43 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-119 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the S6 solar array and truss. |
| 85 | 11 May 2009 | 18:01 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-125 | Template:Success | Final servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope, and final non-ISS Space Shuttle mission. |
| 86 | 15 July 2009 | 22:03 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-127 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility. |
| 87 | 29 August 2009 | 03:59 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-128 | Template:Success | Docking with the ISS. Final shuttle landing at Edwards. |
| 88 | 16 November 2009 | 19:28 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-129 | Template:Success | Docking with the ISS. |
| 89 | 8 February 2010 | 09:14 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-130 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Tranquility Node 3 module and Cupola. |
| 90 | 5 April 2010 | 10:21 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-131 | Template:Success | Docking with the ISS. Final night launch of the Space Shuttle. |
| 91 | 14 May 2010 | 18:20 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-132 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Rassvet Mini-Research module. |
| 92 | 24 February 2011 | 21:53 | Space Shuttle | Discovery | STS-133 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module. Final daytime shuttle landing, and final flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. |
| 93 | 16 May 2011 | 12:56 | Space Shuttle | Endeavour | STS-134 | Template:Success | ISS assembly flight, adding the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. Final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour. |
| 94 | 8 July 2011 | 15:29 | Space Shuttle | Atlantis | STS-135 | Template:Success | Docking with the ISS. Final flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis, final manned launch from the United States until 2020, and the final flight of the Space Shuttle program. |
Falcon 9 and Falcon HeavyEdit
All flights operated by SpaceX.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Booster flight | Mission/Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | 19 February 2017 | 14:39 | Falcon 9 Full Thrust | 1031.1 | SpaceX CRS-10 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. First Falcon 9 launch from LC-39A, and first unmanned launch from 39A since Skylab in 1973. Originally planned to launch from SLC-40, but the AMOS-6 preclusion rendered that pad out of use until repairs. |
| 96 | 16 March 2017 | 06:00 | Falcon 9 Full Thrust | 1030 | EchoStar 23 | Template:Success | First uncrewed launch not to the ISS from LC-39A since Apollo 6 in 1968. First stage expended. |
| 97 | 30 March 2017 | 22:27 | Falcon 9 Full Thrust | 1021.2 | SES-10 | Template:Success | First ever reflight of a previously used Falcon 9 first stage, being previously flown in 2016 as part of SpaceX CRS-8. |
| 98 | 1 May 2017 | 11:15 | Falcon 9 Full Thrust | 1032.1 | NROL-76 | Template:Success | First classified Falcon 9 flight and first SpaceX flight for the National Reconnaissance Office. |
| 99 | 15 May 2017 | 23:21 | Falcon 9 Full Thrust | 1034.1 | Inmarsat-5 F4 | Template:Success | |
| 100 | 3 June 2017 | 21:07 | Falcon 9 Full Thrust | 1035.1 | SpaceX CRS-11 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. Launched and delivered ROSA and NICER. First flight of a reused Dragon capsule, previously flown as part of SpaceX CRS-4. |
| 101 | 23 June 2017 | 19:10 | Falcon 9 Full Thrust | 1029.2 | BulgariaSat-1 | Template:Success | |
| 102 | 5 July 2017 | 23:38 | Falcon 9 Full Thrust | 1037 | Intelsat 35e | Template:Success | First stage expended. |
| 103 | 14 August 2017 | 16:31 | Falcon 9 Block 4 | 1039.1 | SpaceX CRS-12 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. First Block 4 launch. |
| 104 | 7 September 2017 | 14:00 | Falcon 9 Block 4 | 1040.1 | X-37B OTV-5 | Template:Success | Fifth flight of the Boeing X-37B. First X-37B flight not launched on an Atlas V. |
| 105 | 11 October 2017 | 22:53 | Falcon 9 Full Thrust | 1031.2 | SES-11 / EchoStar 105 | Template:Success | |
| 106 | 30 October 2017 | 19:34 | Falcon 9 Block 4 | 1042.1 | Koreasat 5A | Template:Success | |
| 107 | 6 February 2018 | 20:45 | Falcon Heavy | 1033 (core) 1023.2, 1025.2 (sides) |
Falcon Heavy test flight | Template:Success | Maiden launch of Falcon Heavy. Boosters successfully recovered, but core stage was lost. Placed Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster into heliocentric orbit. First flight from LC-39A since SLC-40 was reactivated. |
| 108 | 11 May 2018 | 20:14 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1046.1 | Bangabandhu-1 | Template:Success | First Block 5 launch. |
| 109 | 15 November 2018 | 20:46 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1047.2 | Es'hail 2 | Template:Success | |
| 110 | 2 March 2019 | 07:19 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1051.1 | Crew Dragon Demo-1 (Dragon C204) |
Template:Success | Maiden flight of Crew Dragon and first SpaceX demonstration flight for the Commercial Crew Program. Only flight of Dragon C204 before it was accidentally destroyed during a test. |
| 111 | 11 April 2019 | 22:35 | Falcon Heavy | 1055 (core) 1052.1, 1053.1 (sides) |
Arabsat-6A | Template:Success | First Block 5 Falcon Heavy launch. All three cores safely landed, but the core stage tipped over during transport back to Port Canaveral. |
| 112 | 25 June 2019 | 06:30 | Falcon Heavy | 1057 (core) 1052.2, 1053.2 (sides) |
STP-2 | Template:Success | First DoD flight for Falcon Heavy, and successful recovery of a fairing. |
| 113 | 19 January 2020 | 15:30 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1046.4 | Crew Dragon in-flight abort test (Dragon C205) |
Template:Success | Suborbital flight. Falcon 9 was deliberately destroyed 85 seconds in to simulate a failure at max q. Dragon capsule then separated and followed an abort procedure. Only flight of Crew Dragon C205. |
| 114 | 18 March 2020 | 12:16 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1048.5 | Starlink 5 (v1.0) | Template:Success | First Starlink launch from LC-39A. |
| 115 | 22 April 2020 | 19:30 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1051.4 | Starlink 6 (v1.0) | Template:Success | |
| 116 | 30 May 2020 | 19:22 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1058.1 | Crew Dragon Demo-2 (Dragon Endeavour) |
Template:Success | Maiden crewed flight of a Falcon 9 and the first crewed flight from the United States since STS-135 in 2011, carrying astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS. Maiden flight of Crew Dragon Endeavour. |
| 117 | 7 August 2020 | 05:12 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1051.5 | Starlink 9 (v1.0) | Template:Success | |
| 118 | 3 September 2020 | 12:46 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1060.2 | Starlink 11 (v1.0) | Template:Success | |
| 119 | 6 October 2020 | 11:29 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1058.3 | Starlink 12 (v1.0) | Template:Success | |
| 120 | 18 October 2020 | 12:25 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1051.6 | Starlink 13 (v1.0) | Template:Success | |
| 121 | 16 November 2020 | 00:27 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1061.1 | SpaceX Crew-1 (Dragon Resilience) |
Template:Success | First crew rotation mission of the Commercial Crew Program and maiden flight of Crew Dragon Resilience. |
| 122 | 6 December 2020 | 16:17 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1058.4 | SpaceX CRS-21 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. Launched and delivered the Nanoracks Bishop Airlock. Maiden flight of Cargo Dragon 2. |
| 123 | 19 December 2020 | 14:00 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1059.5 | NROL-108 | Template:Success | Classified NRO mission. |
| 124 | 20 January 2021 | 13:02 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1051.8 | Starlink 16 (v1.0) | Template:Success | |
| 125 | 4 March 2021 | 08:24 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1049.8 | Starlink 17 (v1.0) | Template:Success | |
| 126 | 14 March 2021 | 10:01 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1051.9 | Starlink 21 (v1.0) | Template:Success | |
| 127 | 23 April 2021 | 09:49 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1061.2 | SpaceX Crew-2 (Dragon Endeavour) |
Template:Success | ISS crew rotation flight. |
| 128 | 4 May 2021 | 19:01 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1049.9 | Starlink 25 (v1.0) | Template:Success | |
| 129 | 15 May 2021 | 22:56 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1058.8 | Starlink 25 (v1.0) | Template:Success | |
| 130 | 3 June 2021 | 17:29 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1067.1 | SpaceX CRS-22 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. Launched and delivered the first set of iROSA solar panels. |
| 131 | 29 August 2021 | 07:14 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1061.4 | SpaceX CRS-23 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. |
| 132 | 16 September 2021 | 00:02 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1062.3 | Inspiration4 (Dragon Resilience) |
Template:Success | First private crewed orbital spaceflight, being commanded by entrepreneur Jared Isaacman. First non-ISS American crewed spaceflight since STS-125 in 2009, first splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean since Apollo 9 in 1969, and set highest crewed altitude record since STS-103 in 1999. |
| 133 | 11 November 2021 | 02:03 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1067.2 | SpaceX Crew-3 (Dragon Endurance) |
Template:Success | ISS crew rotation flight. Maiden flight of Crew Dragon Endurance. |
| 134 | 9 December 2021 | 06:00 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1061.5 | Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer | Template:Success | Part of the Explorers Program. Launch consisted of three identical telescope tasked with x-ray astronomy. |
| 135 | 21 December 2021 | 10:06 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1069.1 | SpaceX CRS-24 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. |
| 136 | 6 January 2022 | 21:49 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1062.4 | Starlink Group 4–5 | Template:Success | |
| 137 | 19 January 2022 | 02:02 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1060.10 | Starlink Group 4–6 | Template:Success | |
| 138 | 3 February 2022 | 18:13 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1061.6 | Starlink Group 4–7 | Template:Success | |
| 139 | 3 March 2022 | 14:25 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1060.11 | Starlink Group 4–9 | Template:Success | |
| 140 | 8 April 2022 | 15:17 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1062.5 | Axiom Mission 1 (Dragon Endeavour) |
Template:Success | Docking with the ISS. First private crewed flight to the ISS. |
| 141 | 27 April 2022 | 07:52 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1067.4 | SpaceX Crew-4 (Dragon Freedom) |
Template:Success | ISS crew rotation flight. Maiden flight of Crew Dragon Freedom. |
| 142 | 6 May 2022 | 09:46 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1058.12 | Starlink Group 4–17 | Template:Success | |
| 143 | 18 May 2022 | 10:59 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1052.5 | Starlink Group 4–18 | Template:Success | |
| 144 | 17 June 2022 | 16:09 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1060.13 | Starlink Group 4–19 | Template:Success | |
| 145 | 15 July 2022 | 00:44 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1067.5 | SpaceX CRS-25 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. |
| 146 | 24 July 2022 | 13:38 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1062.8 | Starlink Group 4–25 | Template:Success | |
| 147 | 10 August 2022 | 02:14 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1073.3 | Starlink Group 4–26 | Template:Success | |
| 148 | 11 September 2022 | 01:20 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1058.14 | Starlink Group 4–20 | Template:Success | |
| 149 | 5 October 2022 | 16:00 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1077.1 | SpaceX Crew-5 (Dragon Endurance) |
Template:Success | ISS crew rotation flight. |
| 150 | 1 November 2022 | 13:41 | Falcon Heavy | 1066 (core) 1064.1, 1065.1 (sides) |
USSF-44 | Template:Success | Classified DoD rideshare mission, consisting of two satellites and several secondary payloads. Core stage expended. |
| 151 | 26 November 2022 | 19:20 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1076.1 | SpaceX CRS-26 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. Launched and delivered the second set of iROSA solar panels. |
| 152 | 8 December 2022 | 22:27 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1069.4 | OneWeb Flight #15 | Template:Success | |
| 153 | 17 December 2022 | 21:32 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1058.15 | Starlink Group 4–37 | Template:Success | |
| 154 | 15 January 2023 | 22:56 | Falcon Heavy | 1070 (core) 1064.2, 1065.2 (sides) |
USSF-67 | Template:Success | Classified DoD mission. Core stage expended. |
| 155 | 2 February 2023 | 07:58 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1069.5 | Starlink Group 5–3 | Template:Success | |
| 156 | 2 March 2023 | 05:34 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1078.1 | SpaceX Crew-6 (Dragon Endeavour) |
Template:Success | ISS crew rotation flight. |
| 157 | 15 March 2023 | 00:30 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1073.7 | SpaceX CRS-27 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. |
| 158 | 1 May 2023 | 00:26 | Falcon Heavy | 1068 (core) 1052.8, 1053.3 (sides) |
ViaSat-3 Americas | Template:Success | Heaviest all-electric satellite launched into orbit. All three boosters expended. |
| 159 | 21 May 2023 | 21:37 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1080.1 | Axiom Mission 2 (Dragon Freedom) |
Template:Success | Private crewed docking to the ISS. |
| 160 | 5 June 2023 | 15:47 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1077.5 | SpaceX CRS-28 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. Launched and delivered the third set of iROSA solar panels. |
| 161 | 29 July 2023 | 03:04 | Falcon Heavy | 1074 (core) 1064.3, 1065.3 (sides) |
EchoStar-24 | Template:Success | Heaviest geostationary satellite ever launched. Core stage expended. |
| 162 | 26 August 2023 | 07:27 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1081.1 | SpaceX Crew-7 (Dragon Endurance) |
Template:Success | ISS crew rotation flight. |
| 163 | 4 September 2023 | 02:47 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1073.10 | Starlink Group 6–12 | Template:Success | |
| 164 | 13 October 2023 | 14:19 | Falcon Heavy | 1079 (core) 1064.4, 1065.4 (sides) |
Psyche | Template:Success | Part of the Discovery Program, aimed at studying 16 Psyche. First Falcon Heavy launch towards another celestial body. Core stage expended. |
| 165 | 10 November 2023 | 01:28 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1081.2 | SpaceX CRS-29 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. |
| 166 | 29 December 2023 | 01:07 | Falcon Heavy | 1084 (core) 1064.5, 1065.5 (sides) |
X-37B OTV-7 | Template:Success | Seventh flight of the X-37B. First X-37B flight to medium Earth orbit, and first flight on a Falcon Heavy. Core stage expended. |
| 167 | 18 January 2024 | 21:49 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1080.5 | Axiom Mission 3 (Dragon Freedom) |
Template:Success | Private crewed docking to the ISS. |
| 168 | January 29, 2024 | 01:10 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1062.18 | Starlink Group 6–38 | Template:Success | |
| 169 | 15 February 2024 | 06:05 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1060.18 | IM-1 | Template:Success | First launch of Intuitive Machines' Nova-C Lunar lander. Second mission and first successful flight of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. First launch to the Moon from 39A since Apollo 17 in 1972. |
| 170 | 4 March 2024 | 03:53 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1083.1 | SpaceX Crew-8 (Dragon Endeavour) |
Template:Success | ISS crew rotation flight. |
| 171 | 16 March 2024 | 00:21 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1062.19 | Starlink Group 6–44 | Template:Success | |
| 172 | 24 March 2024 | 03:09 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1060.19 | Starlink Group 6–42 | Template:Success | |
| 173 | 30 March 2024 | 21:52 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1076.12 | Eutelsat 36D | Template:Success | |
| 174 | 7 April 2024 | 23:16 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1073.14 | Bandwagon-1 | Template:Success | First SpaceX dedicated rideshare mission from LC-39A. |
| 175 | 17 April 2024 | 21:26 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1077.12 | Starlink Group 6–51 | Template:Success | |
| 176 | 28 April 2024 | 00:34 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1060.20 | Galileo-L12 | Template:Success | First Gallileo launch from the United States, following development issues with Ariane 6. First stage expended. |
| 177 | 8 May 2024 | 18:42 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1083.3 | Starlink Group 6–56 | Template:Success | |
| 178 | 24 May 2024 | 02:45 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1077.13 | Starlink Group 6–63 | Template:Success | |
| 179 | 25 June 2024 | 21:26 | Falcon Heavy | 1087 (core) 1072.1, 1086.1 (sides) |
GOES-19 | Template:Success | Launched as GOES-U. First GOES launch on a SpaceX rocket. Core stage expended. |
| 180 | 27 July 2024 | 05:45 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1069.17 | Starlink Group 10–9 | Template:Success | |
| 181 | 2 August 2024 | 05:01 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1078.12 | Starlink Group 10–6 | Template:Success | |
| 182 | 12 August 2024 | 10:37 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1073.17 | Starlink Group 10–7 | Template:Success | |
| 183 | 10 September 2024 | 09:23 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1083.4 | Polaris Dawn (Dragon Resilience) |
Template:Success | First mission of the private Polaris Program, commanded by Jared Isaacman. First ever private spacewalk, conducted by Isaacman and Sarah Gillis. Set non-Apollo crewed altitude record since Gemini 11 in 1966, and contributed to current record of most people in orbit, at 19. |
| 184 | 14 October 2024 | 16:06 | Falcon Heavy | 1089 (core) 1064.6, 1065.6 (sides) |
Europa Clipper | Template:Success | Part of the Large Strategic Science Missions, aimed at studying Jupiter and its moon Europa. First Falcon Heavy launch to another planet. All three boosters expended. |
| 185 | 5 November 2024 | 02:29 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1083.5 | SpaceX CRS-31 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. |
| 186 | 11 November 2024 | 17:22 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1067.23 | Koreasat 6A | Template:Success | |
| 187 | 17 November 2024 | 22:28 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1077.16 | Optus-X/TD7 | Template:Success | |
| 188 | 27 November 2024 | 04:41 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1078.15 | Starlink Group 6–76 | Template:Success | |
| 189 | 5 December 2024 | 16:10 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1076.19 | SXM-9 | Template:Success | |
| 190 | 17 December 2024 | 22:26 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1090.1 | O3b mPOWER 7 & 8 | Template:Success | |
| 191 | 23 December 2024 | 05:35 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1080.14 | Starlink Group 12–2 | Template:Success | |
| 192 | 31 December 2024 | 05:39 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1078.16 | Starlink Group 12–6 | Template:Success | |
| 193 | 8 January 2025 | 15:27 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1086.3 | Starlink Group 12–11 | Template:Success | |
| 194 | 15 January 2025 | 06:11 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1085.5 | Blue Ghost Mission 1 /Hakuto-R Mission 2 | Template:Success | First launch of Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost and second launch of ispace's Hakuto-R Lunar landers. CLPS mission for Blue Ghost, private mission for Hakuto-R. First completely successful CLPS mission. |
| 195 | 21 January 2025 | 05:24 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1083.8 | Starlink Group 13–1 | Template:Success | |
| 196 | 30 January 2025 | 01:34 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1073.21 | Spainsat NG I | Template:Success | First stage expended. |
| 197 | 4 February 2025 | 23:13 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1086.4 | WorldView Legion 5 & 6 | Template:Success | |
| 198 | 27 February 2025 | 00:16 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1083.9 | IM-2 | Template:Success | CLPS mission. Second flight of Nova-C. Flight contained secondary payloads Lunar Trailblazer, Brokkr-2, and Chimera-1. |
| 199 | 14 March 2025 | 23:03 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1069.22 | SpaceX Crew-10 (Dragon Endurance) |
Template:Success | ISS crew rotation flight. |
| 200 | 1 April 2025 | 01:46 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1085.6 | Fram2 (Dragon Resilience) |
Template:Success | Private crewed mission, commanded by Chun Wang. First ever crewed mission to go into polar orbit, and first polar launch from LC-39A. |
| 201 | 13 April 2025 | 00:53 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1083.10 | Starlink Group 12–17 | Template:Success | |
| 202 | 21 April 2025 | 08:15 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1092.3 | SpaceX CRS-32 | Template:Success | ISS resupply flight. |
| 203 | 29 April 2025 | 02:34 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1094.1 | Starlink Group 12–10 | Template:Success | |
| 204 | 4 May 2025 | 08:54 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1078.20 | Starlink Group 6–84 | Template:Success | |
| 205 | 13 May 2025 | 05:02 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1067.28 | Starlink Group 6–83 | Template:Success | |
| 206 | 28 May 2025 | 13:30 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | 1080.19 | Starlink Group 10–32 | Template:Success |
Upcoming launchesEdit
| Date | Rocket Type | Mission / Payload |
|---|---|---|
| 9 June 2025 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Axiom Mission 4 |
GalleryEdit
- Apollo 11 Launch - GPN-2000-000630.jpg
Apollo 11 launch at LC-39A (1969)
- Enterprise KSC 1979.jpg
Template:OV at LC-39A during the fit check tests (1979)
- Space Shuttle Atlantis at Launch Pad 39A.jpg
Template:OV at LC-39A (2007)
- 39A SpaceX Deluge Test.webm
Deluge system test at pad 39A (2017)
- SpaceX HIF at KSC LC-39A (27550168066).jpg
SpaceX Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF)
- KSC-20190624-PH KLS01 0056.jpg
Falcon Heavy at LC-39A (2019)
- SpaceX Starship Launch Tower at KSC.jpg
Construction of the future launch tower for the dedicated SpaceX Starship launch pad at LC-39A (2022)
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Launch Complex 39-A Template:Webarchive
- NASA-produced video tour of Shuttle on Pad 39A 1 month before launch
- photos of work areas and catacombs beneath Pad 39A
- Cape Canaveral LC39A from Encyclopedia Astronautica
Template:Coord Template:Kennedy Space Center Template:Merritt Island Template:Navboxes Template:NASA centers Template:NASA navbox Template:SpaceX