Watch Live: Massive Rocket Launch Today – Exact Liftoff Time, How to Watch & What to Expect

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is set to roar off Kennedy Space Center’s historic Pad 39A this morning at 7:30 a.m. EDT (11:30 UTC), carrying NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) alongside two rideshare payloads: NOAA’s SWFO-L1 space-weather sentinel and NASA’s GLIDE ultraviolet imager. Why today’s rocket launch matters • IMAP will chart the boundary of the heliosphere—the magnetic bubble that shields Earth from cosmic radiation—helping scientists forecast solar storms years in advance. • SWFO-L1 will park at the Sun–Earth L1 point to deliver real-time solar wind data, a crucial upgrade for power-grid and satellite operators. • GLIDE will capture unprecedented, full-disk images of the Sun’s outer atmosphere every 30 seconds, filling gaps in current space-weather coverage. Launch timeline and viewing tips – 7:30 a.m. EDT: Liftoff window opens. – +2 min 30 sec: First-stage main-engine cutoff, stage separation. – +8 min 40 sec: Falcon 9 booster targets droneship landing “Just Read the Instructions” 650 km downrange. – +45 min: IMAP deployment; rideshare satellites follow in sequence. Where to watch the rocket launch live today • NASA TV and SpaceX’s webcast both begin at 7:00 a.m. EDT, streaming on YouTube, X (Twitter) and the official agency sites. • In person: Best free views are along Florida’s Space Coast—Jetty Park, Playalinda Beach and Causeway Park often fill up before dawn, so arrive early and expect heavy traffic on SR 528 and A1A. Weather and launch odds The 45th Weather Squadron forecasts 80 % “go” conditions, with cumulus clouds the primary concern. A 24-hour recycle opportunity exists if upper-level winds exceed limits. Booster reuse milestone Today’s flight marks the 20th launch for this first-stage core, tying SpaceX’s reuse record and illustrating the company’s push toward rapid, low-cost access to space. Assuming a successful droneship landing, turnaround teams aim to refurbish the stage for a Starlink mission in under four weeks. Local impact and road closures • NASA Causeway (west of the KSC Visitor Complex) closes to public traffic 4:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m. EDT. • Airspace restrictions extend 1,200 nautical miles downrange; mariners must avoid the hazard zone outlined in LNM 39-25. Quick FAQ for searchers Q: What time is the rocket launch today? A: 7:30 a.m. EDT from Pad 39A. Q: How can I watch the launch? A: Free live stream on NASA TV and SpaceX.com starting 7:00 a.m. EDT. Q: What is IMAP? A: A NASA probe that will map the heliosphere’s edge and study how solar wind interacts with interstellar space. With a clear forecast, record-setting booster reuse and three cutting-edge space-weather payloads aboard, today’s rocket launch promises both stunning visuals and high-value science—don’t miss it.