SpaceX Postpones Falcon 9 Rocket Launch Due to Weather Concerns
SpaceX has decided to delay the Falcon 9 rocket launch by approximately 24 hours, rescheduling it for a Tuesday night window at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The decision came as a result of a cloudy and windy forecast for the originally planned Monday launch, with only a 30% chance of favorable conditions.
The new backup window on Tuesday is expected to have a much higher chance of success, with odds of favorable conditions exceeding 95%. Set to open at 6:15 p.m. EDT, the Falcon 9 will be deploying a batch of internet satellites into low-Earth orbit as part of the Starlink 6-53 mission.
One notable change for this launch is the absence of expected sonic booms in Central Florida, as the rocket’s first-stage booster will be landing on a drone ship after liftoff. The 45th Weather Squadron identified liftoff winds and cumulus clouds as the main weather risks for the scrapped Monday launch window, with northerly gusts predicted to reach up to 30 mph.
However, weather conditions are anticipated to be more favorable on Tuesday, with no significant launch weather concerns on the horizon. Despite the delay, SpaceX has yet to make a public announcement regarding the Starlink mission.
For the latest updates and launch schedule information from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, you can visit floridatoday.com/space. Stay tuned for further developments on this exciting SpaceX mission.
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