SpaceX is set to launch Falcon 9 and the SpainSat NH II satellite for Spanish operator hisdeSat this evening. Liftoff is currently slated for 9:30 PM ET (0130Z) with a four hour window. Weather is not expected to pose a problem.

Stripped of legs and hypersonic fins, expect the rocket to look slightly different from normal. That’s because the mission tonight is somewhat unusual, as Booster B1076 will make its 22nd and final flight due to operational requirements — the mission demands are such that it will take every bit of push from the booster to set up Falcon Stage 2 to achieve its desired orbital placement. The last time SpaceX deliberately sent a Falcon 9 booster to a watery grave was in January of this year, when they lofted the SpainSat NG I payload.

At A Glance

	Details
Mission	Falcon 9 Block 5 | SpainSat NG II — Go for Launch!
Organization	SpaceX
Customer / Payload Provider	Hisdesat / Airbus Defence & Space
Location	Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket	Falcon 9
Pad	Space Launch Complex 40
Status	Go for Launch
Status Info	Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens	Thursday, 10/23/2025 9:30 PM
Window Closes	Friday, 10/24/2025 1:30 AM
Destination	Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Mission Description	Second of two new-generation satellites built by Airbus to provide secure communications to the Spanish government, its allies, and various international organizations.
Broadcast Start Time	Coverage begins ~15 minutes before liftoff.
SpaceX Streaming Coverage	Watch Live on SpaceX.com
Spaceflight Now YouTube Coverage	Watch on YouTube – Spaceflight Now Live Stream

As of 7:14 AM Thursday October 23, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

Trajectory

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of the Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 has released their Launch Mission Execution Forecast and weather is expected to be just about as good as it gets for a rocket launch: 95% GO.

Payload

SpainSat NG II is the second spacecraft in Spain’s next-generation secure communications system for government and defense, operated by Hisdesat. Built on Airbus’s Eurostar Neo geostationary platform, it carries a tri-band payload—military X-, Ka-, and UHF—that enables resilient, encrypted links for Spain and partner nations. Airbus (Spain/France) leads the platform and X-band payload, while Thales Alenia Space (Spain/France) provides the military Ka- and UHF-band payloads and integrates the communications module.

The satellite’s payload is designed for flexibility: active X-band antennas with in-orbit reconfiguration, an onboard digital processor that can cross-connect X and Ka services, and a high-speed service link to retask beams rapidly. It’s engineered with advanced anti-jamming features and capabilities to geolocate interference sources—key for contested environments—while providing coverage spanning roughly two-thirds of the Earth from geostationary orbit.

Program-wise, NG II follows SpainSat NG I (launched Jan. 30, 2025) to complete the two-satellite constellation that replaces the legacy SpainSat and XTAR-EUR systems. The pair are stationed at 30° W (NG II) and 29° E (NG I) with a design life on the order of 15 years, and both rideshare Falcon 9 launches to geostationary transfer orbit. Together, they multiply Spain’s protected X/Ka capacity versus earlier satellites while adding a new UHF payload for broader mission flexibility.

Launch Viewing: In Person

Since the launch is after hours at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center, Banana Creek, or the LC-39A Gantry won’t be available. Playalinda would be closed anyway were it not for the government shutdown, so that will not be an option either.

The best free options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets.

The Space Bar will be open at least in the first part of the launch window. Restaurants in Port Canaveral should be open for the initial hour or two of the launch window as well, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood. All have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.

The best free options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets.

A deeper dive into spectator locations, with maps and distance to the pad can be found here: Best Viewing Spots for Launches from SpaceX Launches From SLC-40 At Cape Canaveral

Launch Viewing: Online

SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: SpainSat NG II. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about fifteen minutes before liftoff.

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.