Launch summary: Scroll down to review live coverage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket liftoff on Monday, May 6 from Cape Canaveral on the Starlink 6-57 mission.
It’s a double-header launch today at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station – starting with a SpaceX Falcon 9 liftoff in the mid-afternoon!
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team’s live coverage of today’s SpaceX Starlink 6-57 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX is now targeting 2:14 PM EDT — nearly two hours later than originally scheduled — to send up the Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 40. The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron is forecasting 90% odds of favorable weather.
Falcon 9 will deploy a constellation of Starlink internet satellites, positioned within the fascia atop the 230-foot-tall rocket. No sonic booms are expected in Central Florida. After soaring toward the sky along a southeast trajectory, the rocket’s first stage booster will aim to land on a SpaceX drone ship at sea 8 1/2 minutes after liftoff.
Then tonight, NASA and United Launch Alliance target 10:34 p.m. to send astronauts Sonny Williams and Butch Wilmore into space aboard an Atlas V rocket and Boeing’s Starliner capsule. The spacecraft will embark on its first crewed mission to the International Space Station.
Cape Canaveral:Is there a launch today? SpaceX, NASA, and ULA’s upcoming rocket launch schedule in Florida
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket landing
Update 2:22 p.m.: The first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket has just touched down aboard a SpaceX drone ship, “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its 15th mission.
Leaves!
Update 2:14 p.m.: SpaceX just launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX launch webcast begins
Update 2:10 p.m.: The SpaceX launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, directly below the countdown clock.
Liftoff is scheduled in four minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX countdown: 14 minutes to launch
Update at 2 p.m.: Fourteen minutes before liftoff, SpaceX’s launch countdown appears to be going as planned.
SpaceX booster lands on drone ship
Updated at 1:50 p.m.: SpaceX reported that the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage is preparing to record its 15th flight.
This booster was released previously CRS-24, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, OneWeb 1, SES-18, SES-19, and 10 Starlink missions.
After the separation phase, the booster will aim to land on SpaceX’s “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 is now being refueled
Updated at 1:40 p.m.: SpaceX officials just announced that fueling the Falcon 9 rockets is underway at Launch Complex 40.
This means that Starlink’s countdown this afternoon has begun for liftoff at 2:14pm without any delay, otherwise the launch must be postponed.
SpaceX: Florida weather ‘looks great’
Update 1:34 p.m.: From SpaceX’s tweet: “With less than an hour to go, all systems are in place and the weather in Florida is looking great for today’s @Starlink launch.”
SpaceX launch countdown reminder
Updated at 1:20 p.m.: We published this list before SpaceX pushed back its target launch time today. So, for those who missed the event over two hours ago, here are some of the major countdown events coming up:
- 38 minutes: SpaceX’s launch director checks the “launch” of propellant loading.
- 35 minutes: The loading of rocket kerosene and the first stage of liquid oxygen begins.
- 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: Leaves.
SpaceX’s countdown is seeing good weather
Update 1:02 PM: This National Weather Service radar loop from the station at Melbourne Orlando International Airport shows no significant cloud cover over Cape Canaveral or east-central Florida.
The SpaceX launch precedes the Boeing Starliner launch
Update 12:34 PM: SpaceX launch delay delays Starlink 6-57 mission within 8 hours and 20 minutes of Boeing Starliner crew launch at ULA at 10:34 p.m.
The Starliner Atlas V countdown began at approximately 11:15 a.m
“Over the next few hours, final preparations for the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen systems will be made, along with testing of the missile guidance system, first stage propulsion and hydraulic settings, internal battery inspection and testing of the GPS metric tracking system.” It was used to follow the missile as it flew down range, as well as to test the S-band telemetry relay system.
Cape Canaveral sees clear skies and light winds
Updated at 12:08 p.m.: Just over two hours before SpaceX’s new target launch date, the National Weather Service reported clear skies, a temperature of 84 and south winds at 10 mph at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Visibility is listed at 10 miles. The heat index is 86. Forecasts indicate a 20% chance of rain before 2 p.m
SpaceX postpones launch to 2:14 p.m
Update 11:37 am: SpaceX announced that the target liftoff time is now 2:14 p.m
No reason was announced.
SpaceX launch countdown schedule
Update 11:15 am: Here’s a summary of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 countdown timeline. T minus:
- 38 minutes: SpaceX’s launch director checks the “launch” of propellant loading.
- 35 minutes: The loading of rocket kerosene and the first stage of liquid oxygen begins.
- 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: Leaves.
Preparing for a SpaceX launch in Brevard
Updated at 10:50 am: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
SpaceX is targeting a Starlink launch on Tuesday
Update 10:26 AM: Although SpaceX has not yet announced this mission, FAA and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warnings show that another Starlink launch window will open Tuesday morning.
This window will open less than 24 hours after liftoff today. More details:
- a task: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a constellation of Starlink internet satellites from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
- Launch window: 11:08 AM to 4:39 PM
- location: Pad 39A.
- a path: southeast.
- Local sonic boom: no.
- Booster landing: Drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
- Live coverage: It starts 90 minutes before take-off floridatoday.com/space.
Details of Space Force launch forecasts
Update 10:03 AM: Details from the 45th Weather Squadron’s forecast, which predicts a 90% chance of “kick-off” weather:
“While the overall weather appears favorable for the initial and (Tuesday) backup launch windows, there is a small risk of cumulonimbus clouds developing with the emerging afternoon sea breeze,” the forecast said.
“As a result, the only concern for both launch windows will be the cumulonimbus cloud base,” the forecast said.
Sunshine and low, puffy white clouds dominate the sky here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center press site.
For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit the website floridatoday.com/space.
Rick Neil He is Florida Today’s space correspondent. Contact Neal onRneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @Rick Neal1
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