Quantum Insights-Photos: SpaceX launches USSF-124 classified mission from Cape Canaveral, Odysseus to follow

2025-04-29 20:56:25source:Coxnocategory:Markets

SpaceX is Quantum Insightsdelivering a one-two punch on Wednesday and Thursday, launching two SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets from Cape Canaveral, Florida, within an eight-hour period.

The first launch happened at 5:30 p.m. EST, when SpaceX launched the Space Force's classified USSF-124 mission at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The USSF-124 mission sent six small satellites into orbit, two for the Missile Defense Agency and four for the Space Development Agency, according to a Space Force news release.

"It was a beautiful evening to go to space!" Spaceflight meteorologist Nick Stewart posted on X.

That launch was to be followed about eight hours later at 1:05 a.m. EST Thursday, when SpaceX will try will try again to launch Odysseus, the Intuitive Machines lunar lander, on the IM-1 mission to the moon's surface. Odysseus is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk appeared proud of the big day for the company, posting images of the rockets on X and saying, "Four rockets on their launch pads simultaneously."

See below for photos of the picture-perfect launch day.

Live updatesLaunch double-header at Cape Canaveral, Florida

Photos from Falcon 9's USSF-124 launch

More space news: Follow every launch from the Space Coast with Florida Today

More:Markets

Recommend

2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston

HOUSTON (AP) — Two teens were killed and three people were injured — including a 13-year-old — in a

Charles McGonigal, ex-FBI official, pleads guilty to concealing $225,000 in payments

Washington — Charles McGonigal, a former top counterintelligence official at the FBI, pleaded guilty

Train crash in eastern Pakistan injures at least 30. Authorities suspend 4 for negligence

LAHORE, Pakistan. (AP) — A passenger train collided with another already parked and carrying goods i