Updates: Below is live coverage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket liftoff on Saturday at 11pm EST.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team’s live coverage of the SpaceX Starlink 6-31 mission tonight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
After delaying Friday night’s launch attempt, SpaceX is now targeting 11pm EST to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Falcon 9 will deploy a constellation of 23 Starlink internet satellites, which are positioned inside the payload fascias atop the 230-foot rocket.
SpaceX announced that if a delay occurs, backup launch opportunities will remain available until 11:59 PM EST.
No local sonic booms are expected. After soaring toward the sky along a southeast trajectory, the rocket’s first stage booster will aim to land on a drone ship at sea 8 and a half minutes after liftoff.
When SpaceX’s live webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) becomes available approximately five minutes before liftoff, it will be posted at the top of this page.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket landing
Updated at 11:08 PM EST: The first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket has just touched down aboard SpaceX’s drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its sixth mission.
Leaves!
Updated at 11:00 PM EST: SpaceX just launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The live online broadcast of the SpaceX launch begins
Updated at 10:56 PM EST: The SpaceX launch live stream on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted at the top of this page.
Liftoff is scheduled in four minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Attempt to launch SpaceX in 20 minutes
Updated at 10:40 PM EST: Below is a list of key upcoming countdown milestones for SpaceX. T minus:
- 16 minutes: The second stage of liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 7 minutes: The Falcon 9 begins engine cooling before launch.
- 1 minute: The flight command computer begins final pre-launch checks; The fuel tank pressure starts until it reaches cruising pressure.
- 45 seconds: SpaceX’s launch director checks the “go” for the launch.
- 3 seconds: The engine control module controls the start of the engine ignition sequence.
- 0 seconds: Falcon taking off 9.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 is now being refueled
Updated 10:29 PM EST: Visual cues indicate that Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40, although SpaceX has not yet made an official announcement.
This means SpaceX is committed to a launch attempt at 11pm EST.
Preparing for a SpaceX launch in Brevard
Updated at 10:08 PM EST: In a positive sign for the potential launch — especially in light of last night’s postponement — Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch support team ahead of the SpaceX mission.
SpaceX is still targeting a launch at 11 p.m. EST, with backup opportunities available until 11:59 p.m.
Space Force: 40% chance of launch weather
Updated at 9:51 PM EST: Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron It only pegs “launch” weather odds at 40% for tonight’s attempt, which falls within the fallback launch window. Meteorologists noted the dangers of the formation of thick cloud layers, cumulus clouds, and wind shear at the upper level.
“The weather scenario will begin to change on Friday as a mid-latitude low pulls a cold front from the Mississippi River Valley toward the far south during the evening. Prefrontal humidity will rise locally, bringing increased cloud cover and rain showers to the region,” the squadron forecast said. Initial launch window is Friday night.
“The weather scenario does not change significantly for the backup launch window Saturday night due to the remaining frontal boundary across the far south,” the forecast said.
At 8:55 PM EDT, the National Weather Service forecast indicated a 20 percent chance of rain before 10 PM at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Fog should form after 4 a.m. Otherwise, it should be mostly cloudy skies with a low around 68 degrees and a west-southwest wind around 5 mph.
SpaceX marks the 250th booster landing
Updated at 9:33 PM EST: In a milestone, a SpaceX Falcon first-stage rocket made its 250th landing on Friday at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The Korea 425 mission into low Earth orbit launched a variety of 25 spacecraft aboard the rocket.
For tonight’s launch from Cape Canaveral, the Falcon 9 rocket will fly on its sixth mission. The booster has previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER and three Starlink missions.
After stage separation, the first stage will land on SpaceX’s drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
For the latest Cape launch schedule updates, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Rick Neil He is Florida Today’s space correspondent (for more of his stories, click here.) Call Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @Rick Neal1
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