**SpaceX Prepares to Launch Optus-X Satellite from Florida**

This afternoon, SpaceX is gearing up to launch a satellite for Australia's telecommunications giant, Optus. At the Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A in Florida, a Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off within a two-hour window starting at 4:29 p.m. EST (2029 GMT).

Space enthusiasts can watch the event live through SpaceX's official X account with the coverage commencing about 15 minutes prior to the launch. In alignment with SpaceX's reusable rocket technology, the Falcon 9's first stage is expected to make a return landing approximately nine minutes post-launch, touching down on the drone ship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" in the Atlantic Ocean.

Of particular note, this mission marks the 16th flight and anticipated landing for this specific Falcon 9 booster. Its previous 15 missions predominantly centered on deploying SpaceX's Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), with nine flights dedicated to this task.

In contrast to previous missions, the Optus-X satellite is not destined for LEO. After reaching geosynchronous transfer orbit, the satellite will continue its journey to geostationary orbit, situated 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above Earth's surface. This geostationary position will enable Optus to enhance its telecommunications services from a fixed vantage point relative to Earth.