The Thuraya 4 mission will mark SpaceX's 418th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket, and the company's 435th mission overall. SpaceX launched more than 130 orbital missions in 2024, and this year's total is expected to be even higher.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX is preparing for its first Falcon 9 launch of 2025, which will send the Thuraya 4-NGS communication satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The company will open the four-hour launch window at 8:27 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3.

The year's last rocket launch from SpaceX is set to blast off from Florida's Space Coast early Tuesday morning.

The launch will be SpaceX ’s 134th Falcon flight in 2024, surpassing the company’s prior year total by 38 missions. Of this year’s 134 launches, 89 were devoted to expanding the Starlink global network (including this upcoming flight).

SpaceX completed back to back missions of two Falcon 9 rockets over the weekend, delivering 22 Starlink satellites and Astranis's One to Many Mission into orbit, the 132nd and 133rd missions of the year.

SpaceX targets Sunday for Falcon 9's launch of the Astranis: From One to Many mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. A 2.5-hour launch window will open at midnight. A backup opportunity will be available at 10:43 p.m., providing a 3.75-hour launch window if necessary.