If skies stay clear, residents in Brunswick, Columbus, and Horry counties could spot the rocket’s plume minutes after liftoff.
By BC News Staff Writer
June 2, 2026
If skies stay clear, residents along the eastern Carolinas may catch a glimpse of a SpaceX Falcon 9 climbing above the horizon early Wednesday morning. The rocket, carrying another batch of Starlink satellites, is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral during a 1:02 a.m. through 5:02 a.m. EDT window on June 3.
A liftoff near the opening of that window offers the best chance for visibility in Brunswick, Columbus, and Horry counties. The rocket’s illuminated exhaust plume could appear five to six minutes after launch, once the vehicle reaches high altitude and clears the southeastern horizon.
Clear conditions are key. Pre‑dawn launches often produce a bright, expanding plume as sunlight catches the exhaust high in the atmosphere, a sight that can be visible for hundreds of miles.
SpaceX has additional Florida launches planned later in the week, including another Starlink mission targeted for June 7, which could also be visible from the Carolinas if the timing aligns with early‑morning twilight.
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