SpaceX Europa Clipper Falcon Heavy
Rocket Launch Video Streams
Weather Forecast During Launch
According to weather officials, there's a 95% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch. Officials are monitoring weather conditions with concerns related to Cumulus Cloud Rule.
Rocket Launch Trajectory & Flight Path
Track the complete rocket launch trajectory with real-time flight data from FlightClub.io . View detailed telemetry including rocket velocity, altitude progression, thrust levels, acceleration, orbital insertion parameters, and 3D flight path visualization throughout all mission phases from liftoff to orbit.
Rocket Launch Timeline
Track every phase of the rocket launch with our detailed mission timeline. From T-minus countdown events and pre-launch preparations through liftoff, stage separation, and orbital insertion, follow each critical milestone in real-time. Our comprehensive launch sequence timeline includes payload integration, propellant loading, engine ignition, and post-launch telemetry tracking.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| T- 00 : 53 : 00 | GO for Prop Load Launch director verifies go for propellant load |
| T- 00 : 50 : 00 | Stage 1 Propellant Load Start of propellant loading in the first stage |
| T- 00 : 45 : 00 | Stage 1 LOX Load Start of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage |
| T- 00 : 35 : 00 | Stage 2 Propellant Load Start of propellant loading in the second stage |
| T- 00 : 18 : 30 | Stage 2 LOX Load Start of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage |
| T- 00 : 07 : 00 | Engine Chill Start of engine chilling |
| T- 00 : 00 : 59 | Startup The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks |
| T- 00 : 00 : 45 | GO for Launch Launch director verifies go for launch |
| T- 00 : 00 : 20 | Tank Press Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels |
| T- 00 : 00 : 06 | Ignition Start of the engine ignition sequence |
| T+ 00 : 00 : 00 | Liftoff First upwards movement of the rocket |
| T+ 00 : 01 : 07 | Max-Q Maximum dynamic pressure |
| T+ 00 : 03 : 03 | SBECO Cut-off of the side boosters |
| T+ 00 : 03 : 07 | Boosters Separation Separation of the side boosters |
| T+ 00 : 04 : 02 | MECO Cut-off of the main engine |
| T+ 00 : 04 : 06 | Stage 2 Separation Separation of the second stage from the first |
| T+ 00 : 04 : 13 | SES-1 First start of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 04 : 31 | Fairing Separation Separation of the payload fairing |
| T+ 00 : 07 : 53 | SECO-1 First cut-off of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 47 : 40 | SES-2 Second start of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 50 : 56 | SECO-2 Second cut-off of the second engine |
| T+ 01 : 02 : 12 | Payload Separation Final deployment of the payload from the rocket |
About the Europa Clipper Mission
| Type | Planetary Science |
|---|---|
| Orbit | Heliocentric N/A |
| Launch Cost | $90,000,000 |
Europa Clipper is the first dedicated mission to study Jupiter's moon Europa. Mission is developed by NASA and comprises of an orbiter spacecraft, which, while in orbit around Jupiter, will perform numerous flybys over Europa. Europa Clipper payload suit included high-resolution cameras and spectrometers for imaging Europa's surface and thin atmosphere, an ice-penetrating radar to search for subsurface water, and a magnetometer and gravity measurements to measure the moon's magnetic field and unlock clues about its ocean and deep interior.
Launch Pad & Location
Launch Complex 39A
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
| Launches | 222 |
|---|---|
| Orbital Launch Attempts | 221 |
| Total Launches | 281 |
The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of NASA's ten field centers. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).
SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket
The Falcon Heavy is a variant of the Falcon 9 full thrust launch vehicle and consists of a standard Falcon 9 rocket core, with two additional boosters derived from the Falcon 9 first stage.
Booster Landing & Recovery
Strap-On Booster B1064
| Serial Number | B1064 |
|---|---|
| Last Flight | 10/14/2024 |
| Successful Landings | 5 |
| Details | Side booster paired with B1065, launched 3 USSF missions, EchoStar 24 and the Psyche mission before expended during launch of Europa Clipper. |
The Falcon Heavy side booster B1064 for this launch has been expended.
Atlantic Ocean - ATL
Atlantic Ocean
Expended - EXP
Vehicle did not perform any landing operations after launch
Strap-On Booster B1065
| Serial Number | B1065 |
|---|---|
| Last Flight | 10/14/2024 |
| Successful Landings | 5 |
| Details | Side booster paired with B1064, launched 3 USSF missions, EchoStar 24 and the Psyche mission before expended during launch of Europa Clipper. |
The Falcon Heavy side booster B1065 for this launch has been expended.
Atlantic Ocean - ATL
Atlantic Ocean
Expended - EXP
Vehicle did not perform any landing operations after launch
Core B1089
| Serial Number | B1089 |
|---|---|
| Last Flight | 10/14/2024 |
| Details | Falcon Heavy core booster expended during the Europa Clipper mission. |
The Falcon Heavy center core B1089 for this launch has been expended.
Atlantic Ocean - ATL
Atlantic Ocean
Expended - EXP
Vehicle did not perform any landing operations after launch
About SpaceX
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper launch scheduled?
The SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper launch was scheduled for:
.
Where can I watch the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper launch video?
You can watch the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch video on this page. The official video includes full mission coverage with multiple camera angles, onboard views, and expert commentary covering pre-launch procedures, liftoff, stage separation, and payload deployment.
Where did the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper mission launch from?
The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA. The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of NASA's ten field centers. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).
What rocket was used for the Europa Clipper mission?
The Europa Clipper mission launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The Falcon Heavy is a variant of the Falcon 9 full thrust launch vehicle and consists of a standard Falcon 9 rocket core, with two additional boosters derived from the Falcon 9 first stage. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
Did the SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster for Europa Clipper attempt a landing?
Yes, the Falcon Heavy first stage booster attempted a Expended at a designated landing zone. Booster recovery allows SpaceX to reuse rocket components, significantly reducing launch costs. Learn more about the landing details.
What weather conditions could have delayed the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper launch?
The SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the Europa Clipper mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official SpaceX live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.
Last Updated
Last Updated:
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Europa Clipper acquisition of signal with good telemetry.
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Spacecraft separation.
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Liftoff.
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Official Webcast by NASA has started
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Tweaked T-0.
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Weather is 95% favorable for launch.
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Weather is 90% favorable for launch.
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GO for launch on October 14.
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Weather is 70% favorable for launch.
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NET October 13.
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Delayed due to Hurricane Milton (new tentative launch date per https://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.html).
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Targeting NET October 10. (Launch time per https://science.nasa.gov/mission/europa-clipper/launch-windows/)
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Added tentative launch time and date.