Get ready for the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch this afternoon from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team 2:42 pm EDT SpaceX Starlink 6-56 mission live from Pad 39A. The original launch target was 11 a.m. — but the company announced three delays, pushing liftoff to the end of today’s window.
Falcon 9 will deploy a cluster of Starlink Internet satellites, packed inside a fairing on top of the 230-foot rocket.
According to the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron, a 90% chance of favorable weather is expected, with a moderate risk of sea breeze-fueled cumulus clouds and damaging solar activity.
Central Florida sonic booms are not expected with this mission. After climbing skyward on a southeast trajectory, the rocket’s first-stage booster will aim to land aboard a SpaceX drone in the ocean 8½ minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX’s live webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) will be posted below the countdown clock when it becomes available approximately five minutes before liftoff.
Cape Canaveral:Is there a launch today? Schedule of upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launches in Florida
SpaceX launches 2nd rocket today
Updated 12:30 PM: Tonight, the SpaceX crew will launch a Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
That 10:48 pm EDT mission will lift 20 Starlink satellites — 13 capable of direct-cell communication — from the 4 East Space Launch Complex into low-Earth orbit.
SpaceX delays launch for third time
Updated 11:56 am: SpaceX has announced a third delay, pushing today’s liftoff attempt to the tail end of the 2:42pm launch window.
Opportunities available starting at 10:16 a.m. on Thursday if needed
Launched amid summer weather
Updated 11:45 am: The National Weather Service is forecasting sunny skies, a high near 86, and southeast winds 10 to 15 mph at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this afternoon. Wind gusts up to 20 mph are possible.
Today through Friday will be the warmest weather east-central Florida has experienced this year — with high temperatures in the forecast, the NWS tweeted.
SpaceX announces another launch delay
Update 11:18 am: Another delay: SpaceX is now targeting today’s launch at 2:10 p.m.
SpaceX launch production is underway in Brevard
Update at 11 am: Despite today’s delayed liftoff target, Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s Launch Operations Support Team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
Starliner starts north of the hood
Update at 10:35 am: Today’s SpaceX Starlink mission at KSC’s Pad 39A is easily visible from nearby Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
That’s where the United Launch Alliance Atlas V will launch NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft during their launch mission to the International Space Station.
After Monday’s scrub, that historic Starliner launch will now happen earlier than 6:16 PM on May 17.
SpaceX delays launch to 1:34 p.m
Update at 10:05 am: We have a 2½ hour delay. SpaceX has announced a new target liftoff time of 1:34 p.m
The company did not publicly state the reason for the delay.
SpaceX Launch Countdown Timeline
Update at 9:50 am: The following is a list of key events in SpaceX’s upcoming countdown. T-minus:
- 38 minutes: The SpaceX launch director checks the “go” for the propellant load.
- 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 16 minutes: The second phase of liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 7 minutes: Falcon 9 starts engine cooling before launch.
- 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch tests; The propellant tank starts to pressurize to flight pressure.
- 45 seconds: The SpaceX launch director checks the “go” for the launch.
- 3 seconds: The engine controller commands the engine to start the ignition sequence.
- 0 seconds: Liftoff.
Space Force: 90% ‘go to launch’ weather
Updated 9:29 am: More details from the 45th Weather Squadron’s SpaceX Starlink 6-56 forecast:
“A ridge of high pressure is now positioned across central Florida and will remain in place for the next several days,” the forecast said.
“Moisture levels are limited to the lowest levels of the atmosphere, so there will be only a small chance of breaking the cumulus cloud rule when sea breezes kick in during the afternoon,” the forecast said.
For the latest news from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Rick Neal Today he is a space reporter in Florida. Contact Neil[email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
