After a two-week grounding period, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket fleet will return to flight with a post-midnight Starlink mission launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY Space Team live coverage of the Starlink 10-9 mission. After a pair of delays, SpaceX is targeting a 1:45 a.m. EDT Saturday liftoff from pad 39A. The Falcon 9 will deploy a batch of 23 Starlink internet satellites, which are packed inside the fairing atop the 230-foot rocket. If needed, launch backup opportunities are available until 4:21 a.m.
No Central Florida sonic booms are expected. After soaring skyward along a northeasterly trajectory, the rocket’s first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship out at sea roughly 8½ minutes after liftoff.
When SpaceX’s live webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) becomes available about five minutes before liftoff, it will be posted below the countdown clock.
Cape Canaveral:Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule in Florida
NWS radar shows clear skies at Cape Canaveral
Update 12:30 a.m.: This radar loop from the National Weather Service station at Melbourne Orlando International Airport shows no significant cloud cover over Cape Canaveral, though widespread showers are lingering northwest of Orlando and offshore from Daytona Beach.
SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard
Update 12:10 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
SpaceX postpones launch again, to 1:45 a.m.
Update 11:42 p.m.: Another delay. Liftoff has been pushed back nearly another hour, to 1:45 a.m. Saturday.
Starlink service supports 2024 Paris Olympics
Update 11:31 p.m.: This afternoon, Starlink officials shared a TikTok video showing the company’s broadband equipment supporting live coverage of the Olympic torch traveling through the streets of Paris.
The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony took place today.
SpaceX pushes back liftoff to 12:59 a.m.
Update 11:11 p.m.: SpaceX officials just announced they are now targeting 12:59 a.m. Saturday for liftoff, a 38-minute delay.
Space Force: 85% odds of ‘go for launch’ weather
Update 11 p.m.: The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron pegs the odds of favorable launch weather at 85%.
“The western Atlantic ridge axis is north of the Spaceport with deep onshore flow continuing to drive the east coast seabreeze quickly inland each afternoon. Lingering effects from Saharan dust will keep conditions drier than normal, with lower chances for overnight coastal showers,” the squadron’s forecast said.
“The primary weather concern for an attempt early Saturday morning is the Cumulus Cloud Rule associated with a stray coastal shower,” the forecast said.
For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale atRneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
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