12.07.2025

What to know: GTO 1 SpaceX rocket launch in Florida set for overnight into Sunday

A Falcon 9 rocket is set to lift off early Sunday, and it's not the typical Starlink launch.

The liftoff of the SpaceX Commercial GTO 1 mission is set to occur during a three and a half hour window which opens at 1:04 a.m. July 13. SpaceX typically favors the beginning of the launch window, however factors such as weather at the launch and booster landing sites play a role in timing.

The Falcon 9 will take off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape CanaveralSpace Force Station. After clearing the launch pad, the rocket will travel due east.

The mission is referred to as "Commercial GTO 1." This marks the first time SpaceX has used the term "GTO" for a mission name. In spaceflight, the term "GTO" typically stands for Geostationary Transfer Orbit. This is an elliptical orbit used to send a payload into a geostationary orbit − meaning the satellite will orbit along with Earth, appearing stationary.

The satellite is known as Dror-1 and is a geostationary communications satellite for Israel.

No Space Coast sonic booms will be heard, as the rocket's booster will land out on a SpaceX drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Quelle: Florida Today