It's launch day — and today, there's a rare treat with SpaceX's planned twin Falcon 9 Florida rocket. Tripleheader if you count SpaceX's third launch scheduled to take place in California later tonight.
Welcome to the FLORIDA TODAY Space team's live coverage of the SpaceX launch from here, first at Kennedy Space Center and later at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Firstly: SpaceX Falcon 9 The Eutelsat36D satellite was launched at 5:52 pm from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A. It is a communications satellite for Africa and Eurasia. The Falcon 9 rocket returns after landing Just read the instructions Drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Delta IV heavy delaySpaceX rocket launches Doubleheader on tap as Delta IV Heavy postpones its farewell
Just over three hours later, SpaceX will launch the next batch of 23 Starlink satellites from Space Force Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. Starlink 6-45 is currently scheduled to launch at 9:02 p.m., and SpaceX said the window extends until 10 pm.
The booster will land Lack of gravity A drone in the Atlantic Ocean, so again no sonic booms will follow this launch.
To add to the launch fever, SpaceX on the US West Coast intends to launch another batch of 22 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This launch is targeted for 10:30 PM ET. If all launches go ahead, it would mean SpaceX sent three Falcon 9 rockets into space within hours on Saturday.
When do you see a Florida release?Is there a launch today? NASA's SpaceX's upcoming rocket launch schedule in Florida
Meanwhile, the closest Delta IV Heavy could make another attempt after scrubbing on Thursday at 1:25 p.m. Monday, according to the FAA.
We'll be covering the live launches in Florida. We will resume our live coverage approximately 90 minutes before the Falcon 9 Starlink launch scheduled for 9:02 p.m.
6:30 PM Next: SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral
We'll be back with live coverage of the countdown to the SpaceX Starlink launch, scheduled for 9:02pm now from Cape Canaveral Space Force Launch Complex 40.
It's a real treat, double launches in Florida, including one night launch. Night launches can be amazing.
Also tonight, SpaceX hopes to make it triple-header with a launch at 10:30 PM ET from California.
6:10 PM SpaceX prepares to deploy the satellite around 6:25 PM
The Eutelsat36D satellite will be launched 33 minutes and 57 seconds after liftoff, according to SpaceX.
Next: Preparations for SpaceX's second launch from Florida launch tonight.
6:00 PM A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lands on a drone ship
The Falcon 9 rocket returns after landing Just read the instructions Drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. This marks SpaceX's 289th recovery of a first-stage rocket.
5:52 PM Take-off!!
SpaceX has just launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying KSC's EutelSat36D satellite, the first of two launches planned today from the Cape, Florida. The third launch targets the state of California.
5:47 PM No problems tracking SpaceX Falcon 9, weather is green
SpaceX says the Falcon 9 is not tracking any issues. The weather is green which means going for a launch.
All seems well for the planned 5:52 pm launch from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A.
5:43 PM SpaceX live broadcast begins
The SpaceX launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, directly above the countdown clock. Takeoff is scheduled for 5:52 p.m
5:42 p.m. T-10 for SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket liftoff
Head outside if you plan on catching this launch! If your skies are clear, it will be hard to miss the bright rocket rising into the sky. And get ready to rumble (my favorite part!).
At minute T-1, the flight command computer will begin final checks.
Within 45 seconds of launch, the launch director verifies that they are ready for launch.
5:30 PM What to expect after the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket
After launch, the rocket will reach Max Q, the moment of greatest mechanical stress, after 1 minute and 14 seconds of flight. At 2 minutes and 30 seconds, there is a MECO – main engine cut-off. At 2 minutes and 34 seconds, the first and second stages separate.
The first stage landing on the drone ship is set for 8 minutes and 36 seconds of flight.
The satellite spreads 33 minutes and 57 seconds per flight.
5:25 PM Refueling appears to be underway for the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch
Visual cues on the rocket indicate that SpaceX has begun fueling the Falcon 9 ahead of the planned 5:52pm launch from KSC's Launch Pad 39A.
5:15pm Waiting to hear if refueling is underway for tonight's first SpaceX Falcon 9 launch
If SpaceX plans to conduct the launch at 5:52 p.m., it will have begun fueling the Falcon 9 at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A.
SpaceX has not yet made an official announcement. Unlike NASA's United Launch Alliance and SpaceX missions, SpaceX does not make audio from its launch control center available to listen to.
Once the refueling process begins, this means that tonight's Starlink mission will be ready for launch at 5:52 PM without any delay in the countdown, otherwise the launch will have to be postponed. But if the refueling is not underway, SpaceX still has time in the launch window to choose a new launch time.
5 p.m.: No sonic booms expected with SpaceX Falcon 9 launch
Both launches will land today on drones in the Atlantic Ocean. No sonic booms are expected.
The first Falcon 9 rocket will land on Just read the instructions Drone.
But even though there won't be a sonic boom, expect a rumble when the sound wave hits you after takeoff.
SpaceX just posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “all systems look good and there are blue skies” above the launch pad.
4:55 p.m. SpaceX Falcon 9 launch is being prepared
Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch support team ahead of SpaceX's upcoming Falcon 9 launch from Kennedy Space Center.
The launch window is from 5:52 PM to 8 PM. At this point, we expect a launch when the window opens but we'll let you know if that changes.
4:52 PM, one hour until the planned SpaceX Falcon 9 launch
With one hour to go until launch, we're looking at some key milestones. The first critical thing is at T-38 minutes, where SpaceX's launch director will decide to “go” or not to refuel.
Here's a behind-the-scenes summary of SpaceX's countdown timeline. T minus:
- 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.
4:45 PM SpaceX aims to do three launches from three platforms and two cases
If things go as planned today, it will be a record. SpaceX is trying to launch three missions from three different launch pads in two states within hours of each other. First, the Falcon 9 EUTELSAT 36D mission will be launched from the KSC 39A launch complex.
This is perhaps the most famous launch pad in the world. It's where Apollo 11 launched on July 16, 1969, with astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins on the first mission to put a man on the moon. It is also the site where the first and last launch of NASA's Space Shuttle program occurred 30 years apart.
Want to know about other active launch pads on the Space Coast? Here is a great guide.
The second launch is scheduled to take place from Florida tonight at 9:02 pm from Cape Canaveral Space Force Launch Complex 40, while the third launch is in California at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:30 pm ET.
4:25 PM What is SpaceX launching from KSC today?
Eutelsat 36D is a communications satellite that will serve Africa and Eurasia.
According to an Airbus press release earlier this month, the satellite was built by Airbus and has a life expectancy of 15 years. Its purpose is to provide television broadcasting as well as government services to Africa, Europe and Eurasian countries.
The satellite was flown to Kennedy Space Center earlier this month after arriving in Stanford, Florida, via an Airbus Beluga transport aircraft.
4:15 PM The launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from the King Salman Center has a history
Perhaps the most memorable Falcon 9 launch was CRS-26, a commercial resupply mission for the International Space Station that launched on November 26, 2022.
In general, this will be 12y launch.
In fact, all of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket boosters flying in all three of today's planned launches have launched before.
4:00 PM SpaceX Falcon 9 launch weather conditions look good
With less than two hours to go until SpaceX's first launch, the sky over the Cape turned cloudy with spots of blue. The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron had predicted a less than 5 percent chance that weather conditions would violate launch rules. Main weather concern: dense cloud layer.
When will the first SpaceX Falcon 9 launch take place on Saturday?
The first SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is tentatively scheduled to launch on Saturday at 5:52 PM from KSC's Launch Pad 39A. It's a three-hour, 58-minute window opener. There are backup opportunities available on Sunday in the same window.
When is the second SpaceX Falcon 9 launch on Saturday?
SpaceX will attempt a dual goal by launching a constellation of Starlink satellites on another Falcon 9 rocket at 9:02 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Launch Complex 40. This window lasts until 10 p.m. There is another backup opportunity on Sunday starting at 7 p.m.
What is the weather forecast for the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch?
The weather forecast is ideal with less than a 5 percent chance of conditions that could prevent the launch, according to the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron. The main concern: thick cloud layers.
Brooke Edwards is a satellite correspondent for Florida Today. Contact her at [email protected]
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