Watch live: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches on record-breaking 21st flight from Cape Canaveral

Watch live coverage as SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket with 23 second-generation satellites for Elon Musk's Starlink internet service. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 8:32 p.m. EDT (0032 UTC) on Friday, May 17. The first-stage booster making a record-breaking 21st flight will land on SpaceX's drone ship 'A Shortfall of Gravitas', stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, about eight and a half minutes after leaving the launch pad.

The mission, designated Starlink 6-59, will be the 36th launch of Starlink satellites this year and the 51st flight of a Falcon 9 rocket in 2024. The booster will target a south-easterly trajectory after lifting off from pad 40.

Commentary will be provided by Spaceflight Now's Will Robinson-Smith, starting approximately an hour prior to liftoff.

Videos like this are made possible by the support of our members. Join this channel to get access to perks:

[lomgshorts]

Seeing this never gets old. Each launch is so exciting to view, I love the whole program and each launch !!!!

[jamescrawford]

The dual camera views during stage separation were just the cat’s pajamas!!! Best camera coverage ever!! (And I’ve watched a lot of these launches!!) Hats off and kudos to your camera techs!!!👏👏👍👍😎🇺🇸

[drsohkk]

Us in The Bahamas saw it we was speechless and amazed when we knew what it was

[clevergirl]

That was an incredible launch both visually and technically.
Gorgeous jellyfish views and a Falcon launching and landing for the 21st time.

[mrdave]

I saw this on On Patrol Live. The hosts including Dan Abrams didn’t know what it was. I was screaming at the television. Lol.

[scorpio]

I have to say.... Your team has developed some amazing capabilities for tracking! Good job!

[scorpio]

"And here we go. " I've heard that somewhere before.... 😀

[slartybarfastb]

Buy that booster a beer! It's 21 now.🍻

[JamesHunterRoss]

These guys are making it look easy. (This is not easy!) These launches seem almost routine now, but I know that's not really the case at all; this is amazing!

[michaelsparks]

I’m going to Florida in week, that would be so cool to witness one of these night flights!❤

[peaksphinx]

I'm so glad to see humanity take to the stars, to one day walk where we once gased from earth, ...may we go on to return to the moon and do the other things... not because they are easy, but because they are hard!

[jimslimm]

I think that was the best videography that I have seen of a Falcon 9 launch, and great audio capturing the VAB. Except for some undesirable talking over the last part of the rocket sounds, it was a great presentation of the launch.

[mmnasmds]

What's the skinny? I love you space crew! Life is much better with you all in it! Reduce, reuse, recycle

[robbiee_outdoors]

Watched the launch from Port St. Lucie Florida. Perfect night for it

[crzy]

i literally saw it falling while driving in the highway, thinking it was a comett or a shooting star😭

[daveyoung]

Will Robinson! From lost in space? Sorry I couldn’t help it

[juliechats]

We see all the launches from our backyard here in new Smyrna Beach

[sherribaker]

Saw the rocket while on the atlantic ocean. Coming back from Bahamas.

[jupitermach]

Did anyone else here in Florida see the UFO ? You can also see it on the live feed also at T+3:07-3:16

[srandyt]

On launches this time of day or earlier, it would be nice to have one camera trained on the booster and show it and the second stage on split screen and switch to SpaceX after the Entry Burn.