A SpaceX rocket shows light in the morning sky

play

Initiate a reboot: Scroll down to watch the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch live from Space Launch Complex 40 on Tuesday, June 4.

Night owls rejoiced as the midnight SpaceX rocket launch was set for 3 a.m. EDT Wednesday. However, the launch was postponed until 4:55 am, making it an early morning launch.

The latest batch of Starlink satellites, Starlink 8-9, will lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 just before 5 a.m. Wednesday. To the surprise of the onlookers – the booster landing was illuminated by sunlight peaking from the eastern horizon. .

When is the next Florida rocket launch? Is there a launch today? Schedule of upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launches in Florida

Against the still night sky, the Falcon 9 rocket was brighter than a Fourth of July firework. After unloading the second stage and launching it into space, the Falcon 9 booster dove toward a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, landing eight and a half minutes later.

Steam was visible from Falcon 9 for over an hour.

The FAA confirmed the mission name as Starlink 8-9. Being part of Group 8 satellites, the missile traveled northeast.

Update 5:03 am: The Space Coast had a good look at the first stage booster landing in the Atlantic Ocean.

Liftoff!

Update 4:55 am: SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX launch webcast begins

Update at 4:50 am: SpaceX’s launch webcast, hosted on X (formerly Twitter), is now live below the countdown clock.

See also  SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida on Tuesday morning

Liftoff is scheduled for five minutes from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

We’re 10 minutes away from tonight’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch!

Update 4:45 am: T-10 minutes! If you plan to catch this launch, get out! If you have a clear sky, it will be hard to miss the bright rocket rising in the pre-dawn sky.

Look south of Kennedy Space Center from your direction.

SpaceX Falcon 9 droneship landing

Update 4:36 am: Today’s Falcon 9 landing Lack of gravitas Droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. The only sound expected was the familiar rumble of the rocket.

SpaceX Launch Countdown Timeline

Update at 4:30 am: Here’s a behind-the-scenes breakdown of SpaceX’s countdown timeline. 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 preview 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.

Update at 4:20 am: SpaceX is about to start fueling the rocket. That means they either lift-off at 4:55 am EDT or they have to drop the release for the day.

Update at 4:10 am: Some space news waiting for liftoff.

SpaceX has been selected by NASA to launch the COSI telescope atop a Falcon 9. The space telescope will observe gamma-rays and peer into the mysteries behind antimatter and stars. It is not expected to launch before August 2027.

See also  Exclusive: Nvidia sets new challenger to Intel to build Arm-based PC chips

Update at 4:00 am: Brevard EOC is active ahead of liftoff this morning.

Updated 3:48 pm: SpaceX is still aiming for 4:55 am EDT. The window runs until 5:59 am EDT. If SpaceX is unable to launch this morning, the next opportunity will be Sunday, July 7 at 12:28 a.m. EDT.

SpaceX did not say why the launch time was moved, but radar showed weather on the launch pad and booster landing site.

Brooke Edwards is a space reporter for Florida Today. Contact her [email protected] or in X: @brookofstars.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *