CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., & VANDENBERG SFB, Calif. — Nov. 6, 2025. SpaceX capped Wednesday night with a successful Starlink liftoff from Florida and is aiming for a second Falcon 9 launch today from California—another rapid‑cadence one‑two that keeps the company on pace for a record year.
What happened overnight on Florida’s Space Coast
A Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s SLC‑40 at 8:31:10 p.m. EST on Nov. 5 (01:31:10 UTC Nov. 6), carrying 29 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on mission Starlink 6‑81. SpaceX confirmed the full batch deployed a little more than an hour after liftoff.
The first‑stage booster B1094—flying for the fifth time after Crew‑11, Ax‑4, NG‑23 and Starlink 12‑10—landed on the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” about 8½ minutes after launch. It marked JRTI’s 140th landing and the 529th Falcon booster landing overall. The rocket flew a south‑easterly trajectory; weather for the window was better than 95% “go,” per the range forecast. Spaceflight Now+1
The flight also extended SpaceX’s single‑year launch tally: according to Space.com, last night’s mission was the 141st Falcon 9 of 2025 and the 146th SpaceX launch overall when including Starship tests.
What’s next today on the West Coast
Another Falcon 9 is scheduled today (Thursday, Nov. 6) from Vandenberg Space Force Base’s SLC‑4E with 28 more Starlink satellites. The launch window runs 12:56–4:56 p.m. Pacific (20:56–00:56 UTC). After stage separation, the first stage is set to land on the Pacific drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You.” KSBY notes the booster supporting the flight is on its eighth mission. KSBY News
Independent launch‑tracking sites list the mission as Starlink 11‑14 and match the 20:56–00:56 UTC window.
How to watch live
SpaceX says its official webcast begins about five minutes before liftoff. You can watch via the company’s launch page when the stream goes live.
Photos from Florida’s launch
For visuals of last night’s Cape Canaveral ascent, see Florida Today’s gallery from the Starlink 6‑81 mission.
Key facts at a glance
- Florida mission: Starlink 6‑81 (29 satellites)
Liftoff:8:31:10 p.m. EST, Nov. 5 (01:31:10 UTC Nov. 6)
Booster:B1094 (flight 5); landed on JRTI ~8.5 minutes after liftoff
Weather:>95% favorable (45th Weather Squadron L‑1 forecast)
Milestones:140th JRTI landing; 529th Falcon booster landing overall. - California mission (today): Starlink 11‑14 (28 satellites)
Window:12:56–4:56 p.m. PT (20:56–00:56 UTC)
Recovery:OCISLY droneship in the Pacific
Booster: flying its 8th mission (per local station KSBY).
Why it matters
Starlink remains the backbone of SpaceX’s launch tempo, with dense batches of V2 Mini spacecraft expanding coverage and capacity in low Earth orbit. Wednesday’s success and today’s follow‑on attempt underscore a cadence that has already delivered 141 Falcon 9 flights this year—an unprecedented pace in global launch history.
Context and background
- SpaceX expected multiple Starlink missions in November leading into the Thanksgiving period, sustaining its high‑frequency manifest.
- The official range forecast ahead of last night’s Florida launch called for very benign conditions, with no primary concerns for liftoff or recovery operations.
Editor’s note for readers
Launch times can shift due to weather or technical checks. For the latest status and the live broadcast, use SpaceX’s official launch page shortly before the opening of the window.
Sources: Spaceflight Now live coverage and post‑launch update; 45th Weather Squadron L‑1 forecast; Space.com analysis of annual launch cadence; KSBY’s Vandenberg schedule and webcast details; RocketLaunch.Live listing for Starlink 11‑14; Florida Today’s photo gallery of the Cape Canaveral liftoff.
