Launch summary: Scroll down to review live coverage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket’s liftoff on Wednesday, May 8, from Cape Canaveral on the Starlink 6-56 mission.
Get ready for the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket this afternoon from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team’s live coverage of the SpaceX Starlink 6-56 mission at 2:42 PM EST from Pad 39A. The original launch target was 11 a.m., but the company announced three delays, delaying the launch until the end of today’s window.
Falcon 9 will deploy a constellation of Starlink internet satellites, positioned within the fascia atop the 230-foot-tall rocket.
Expect 90% odds of favorable weather, according to the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron, with a slight concern for sea breeze-fueled cumulus clouds and a moderate risk of damaging solar activity.
No sonic booms are expected in Central Florida on this mission. After climbing skyward along a southeast trajectory, the rocket’s first stage booster will aim to land on a SpaceX drone ship at sea about 8 1/2 minutes after liftoff.
Cape Canaveral:Is there a launch today? SpaceX, NASA, and ULA’s upcoming rocket launch schedule in Florida
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket landing
Updated at 2:50 p.m.: 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, concluding its third mission.
“Blue seas and blue skies for Falcon 9 landing,” SpaceX officials said in a tweet.
Leaves!
Update 2:42 p.m.: SpaceX just launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from pad 39A at KSC.
SpaceX launch webcast begins
Update 2:37 p.m.: The SpaceX launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, directly below the countdown clock.
Liftoff is scheduled within five minutes from KSC.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launches in 10 minutes
Update 2:32 p.m.: Ten minutes before SpaceX’s scheduled Falcon 9 launch at 2:42 p.m., the countdown appears to be going as planned. Rocket fueling is still underway at KSC.
Below is a list of the remaining important countdown milestones. T minus:
- 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 launch director checks ‘launch start’.
- 3 seconds: The engine control module controls the start of the engine ignition sequence.
- 0 seconds: Falcon taking off 9.
SpaceX booster lands on drone ship
Update 2:27 p.m.: Tonight’s mission marks only the third flight of a Falcon 9 first-stage rocket, SpaceX said, a paltry sum in this day and age.
SpaceX: The rocket and weather are ready for launch
Update 2:17 p.m.: “The vehicle and weather in Florida are currently ready for launch,” SpaceX officials announced in a tweet.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 is now being refueled
Update 2:07 PM: SpaceX has just announced that fueling of the Falcon 9 rocket is underway at pad 39A.
This means that Starlink’s afternoon countdown has now ended for liftoff at 2:42pm without further delay, otherwise the launch must be postponed.
ULA rolls off the nearby Atlas V pad
Update 1:56 PM: Florida Today photographer/videographer Craig Bailey captured this photo of United Launch Alliance crews rolling an Atlas V rocket and a Boeing Starliner capsule off the pad at nearby Launch Complex 41.
The heat index before SpaceX’s launch rose to 96
Updated at 1:30 p.m.: The temperature reached 90 degrees — with a moderate heat index of 96 — at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the National Weather Service reported.
The temperature was four degrees higher than expected in the afternoon. Other meteorological notes: Partly cloudy skies; South winds 9 mph; And visibility of 10 miles.
Brevard County announced a burn ban at 12:18 p.m., banning bonfires, campfires and open burning. Amidst persistent dry weather conditions that increase the risk of forest fires.
SpaceX is preparing for its second launch in two days at the Cape
Update at 1 p.m.: SpaceX’s latest launch from Florida’s Space Coast occurred less than 48 hours ago.
Just as the Falcon 9 rocket is programmed today, this rocket propelled 23 broadband satellites into low Earth orbit on a southeast trajectory.
SpaceX will launch a second rocket later today
Updated at 12:30 pm: SpaceX crews are scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket tonight from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The 10:48 p.m. EDT mission will lift 20 Starlink satellites — including 13 with direct cell communication capabilities — into low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East.
SpaceX postpones launch for third time
Update 11:56 AM: SpaceX announced a third delay, pushing back today’s liftoff attempt to the end of the launch window at 2:42 p.m.
If necessary, more launch opportunities are available on Thursday starting at 10:16 a.m
The launch takes place amid summer weather
Update 11:45 am: The National Weather Service is forecasting sunny skies, a high around 86 degrees, and southeast winds of 10 to 15 mph this afternoon at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Station. Wind speeds may reach 20 mph.
Today through Friday will bring the warmest weather East Central Florida has seen this year — with record high temperatures expected, the tweet said.
SpaceX announces another launch delay
Update 11:18 am: Another delay: SpaceX is now targeting 2:10pm for today’s launch.
Preparing for a SpaceX launch in Brevard
Updated at 11 am: Although today’s launch target was delayed, Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
The launch will take place just north of the Starliner pad
Update 10:35 am: The SpaceX Starlink mission will lift off today from pad KSC 39A within walking distance of nearby Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
This is where the United Launch Alliance Atlas V will be launched NASA astronauts Sonny Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station during the inaugural crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
After Monday’s scrub, the historic Starliner launch will now take place no later than 6:16pm on May 17.
SpaceX postpones launch to 1:34 p.m
Updated 10:05 AM: We have a two and a half hour launch delay. SpaceX just announced its new target liftoff time of 1:34 p.m
The company has not publicly stated the reason for the delay.
SpaceX launch countdown schedule
Update 9:50 am: Below is a list of major upcoming countdown events for SpaceX. 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.
Space Force: Weather is 90% ready for launch
Update 9:29 AM: Additional details from the 45th Weather Squadron’s SpaceX Starlink 6-56 forecast:
“The axis of high pressure is now located across central Florida and will remain in place over the next few days,” the forecast said.
“The extent of humidity is limited to the lowest levels of the atmosphere, so there will be only a small chance of violating the cumulus cloud rule at the onset of the sea breeze during the noon hours,” the forecast said.
For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit 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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