Spectacular SpaceX Bandwagon-4 Overnight Launch Over Orion & RTLS Landing: Photos

Posted On: November 2, 2025
Posted By: Ken Kremer
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8.5 min long duration timelapse SpaceX Falcon 9 Bandwagon-4 launch & RTLS landing streak over Constellation Orion! Liftoff took place at 1:09 a.m. ET on 2 Nov. 2025 from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket soars high over Cape – forming stunning SpaceX separation nebula. Dozens and dozens of spectators watched from 2 piers foreground and Max Brewer Bridge at far left at Space View Park, Titusville. Single image captured with fisheye lens. Credit: Ken Kremer/SpaceUpClose.com

SPACE VIEW PARK, TITUSVILLE, FL – Under clear overnight skies SpaceX put on a spectacular sky show with the launch of the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission and RTLS landing Sunday Nov. 4 under virtually pristine skies

Liftoff of Bandwagon-4 on a reused SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took place just past midnight at 1:09:59 a.m. EDT (0509:59 UTC) on 2 Nov. 2025 from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

We watched along with dozens and dozens of spectators from Space View Park, Titusville.

Bandwagon-4 was the fourth multi-customer flight to a mid-inclination orbit

It also counts as the 18th mission as part of SpaceX’s small sat ride share program, which also includes the Transporter series, going to higher inclinations.

This was the 3^rd launch of Falcon 9 1^st stage B1091.3

It touched down safely at LZ-2 about 8.5 minutes after liftoff

Ken Kremer

Watch for Ken’s continuing onsite coverage of NASA, SpaceX, ULA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and more space and mission reports direct from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Stay tuned here for Ken's continuing Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news. Dr. Kremer is a research scientist and journalist based in the KSC area, active in outreach and interviewed regularly on TV and radio about space topics. Ken’s photos are for sale and he is available for lectures and outreach events.

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