Will Invest 90L’s cloud-generating rainy impacts prevent SpaceX from launching a Falcon 9 rocket for a second day in a row?
Stay tuned. Welcome to the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team’s live coverage of this evening’s Starlink 10-2 mission from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX has already pushed back the launch time twice. New target time: 8:14 PM EDT, or 3 1/2 hours later than originally planned. Backup opportunities will only remain available until 8:30 p.m., if needed.
SpaceX was called off from its initial launch attempt on Wednesday as heavy cloud cover and showers blanketed the Cape. Today, the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron determined only a 25% chance of favorable weather throughout the launch window, warning of anvil clouds, cumulus clouds and surface electric fields.
No sonic booms are expected in Central Florida. After flying skyward along a northeast trajectory, the Falcon 9 will deploy an array of Starlink Internet satellites, which are packed inside the top of the 230-foot rocket. The first stage booster will aim to land aboard a SpaceX drone ship at sea 8 1/2 minutes after liftoff.
When SpaceX’s live webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) becomes available about five minutes before launch, it will be posted below the countdown clock.
Starlink now available in area 100
Update at 6:49 p.m.: On Tuesday, Starlink officials announced that their high-speed Internet service is available in Sierra Leone, the network’s 100th country, territory or market worldwide.
Clouds dispersing over Cape Canaveral
Update at 6:08 p.m.: This National Weather Service radar shows cloud cover dissipating over the Cape Canaveral Space Station and neighboring NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
SpaceX postpones liftoff for a second time
Update at 17:24: SpaceX is now targeting 20:14 for liftoff.
Radar shows storms west of the Cape
Update at 4:46 p.m.: The National Weather Service’s special weather statement has been extended until 5:15 p.m., and the affected area now extends north of the city of Cape Canaveral.
This NWS radar loop depicts this slow area of severe and stormy weather.
Bad starting weather near the Cape
Update at 16:17: Gloomy weather reports continue to pour in from National Weather Service forecasters at Melbourne International Airport’s Orlando station.
This time, a special weather statement warning for winds of 40 mph has been issued until 4:45 p.m. for the Merritt Island-Rockledge-Cocoa-Port St. area. John, just west of the spaceport.
Preparation for the SpaceX launch is underway in Brevard
Update at 15:56: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
Bad launch weather continues at the Cape
Update at 15:34: The National Weather Service has extended its special weather statement until 4:15 p.m. — providing a key indication of why SpaceX pushed back its original launch time to 4:46 p.m.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph are possible from Christmas and eastern Orange County to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Titusville and points north of Mims.
SpaceX postpones the launch for 1 hour and a half
Update at 15:21: SpaceX just announced that the target’s new liftoff time is 6:10 p.m
SpaceX launch: All eyes on the weather
Update at 15:15: After yesterday’s postponement, many launch spectators will be keeping their eyes peeled for weather reports this afternoon.
A National Weather Service special weather statement remains in effect until 3:30 p.m. for much of the area stretching from the Christmas area east to KSC, Titusville and points north.
Meteorologists warn of winds of up to 40 mph.
For the latest news and launch schedules from the 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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