Update: Scrub! SpaceX has halted its Falcon 9 launch this morning due to inclement weather around Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The next opportunity for travel opens at 11:25 PM EST Wednesday, May 24th. Stay tuned for the latest developments in floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Follow live updates as SpaceX targets Tuesday through Wednesday for the Falcon 9 launch and Commercial Communications Satellite from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Although weather conditions are only 30% “go”, teams have a window of more than two hours that opens at 11:25 PM EST for the launch of Arabsat’s BADR-8 satellite from Launch Complex 40. If it is done If released during the tonight window, it will fly along the eastern track. After liftoff, the rocket’s 162-foot first stage will aim for landing on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Follow the live updates below:
1:19 a.m. EST: SpaceX canceled its launch attempt this morning due to inclement weather around Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The next launch opportunity opens no later than 11:25 PM EST Wednesday, May 24th. Stay tuned for the latest news in floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
1:12 a.m. EST: SpaceX is counting down to liftoff at 1:22 AM EST. A reminder that there is no local landing today, so no sonic boom.
More SpaceX landings: Florida will hear more sonic booms as SpaceX compresses the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket
12:45 a.m. EST: SpaceX began fueling the Falcon 9 at Launch Complex 40. This locks in the target launch time of 1:22 a.m. EST; Falcon 9 either flies at that time or spends the night.
- T-minus 00:35:00: LOX (liquid oxygen) first stage loading begins
- 00:16:00: Loading of the second stage of LOX begins
- 00:07:00: Falcon 9 starts engine cooling before launch
- 00:01:00: Command the trip computer to initiate final checks before launch
- 00:01:00: Fuel tank pressure to flight pressure begins
- 00:00:45: SpaceX launch manager checks startup
- 00:00:03: Engine ignition sequence for engine control commands to start
- 00:00:00: Falcon 9 takes off
12:30 a.m. EST: SpaceX says it is now targeting the end of the launch window, or 1:22 a.m. EST, for a launch this morning. Still waiting for clear weather.
12:20 a.m. EST: SpaceX is now targeting 1:10 AM EST for this mission, called BADR-8. Weather conditions seem to be improving a bit, but the flight window closes at 1:22 a.m. EST. We’ll see if SpaceX can thread the needle.
Missile launch schedule: Upcoming launches and landings in Florida
12:10 a.m. EST: To give teams more time to wait out the weather clearing, SpaceX is now counting down to 12:55 a.m. EST. We should, if the schedules hold, hear updates about refueling soon. Here’s the pre-release schedule as it stands:
- T-minus 00:38:00: SpaceX launch manager checks transition to fuel load
- 00:35:00: RP-1 (missile kerosene) starts loading
- 00:35:00: LOX (Liquid Oxygen) first stage loading begins
- 00:16:00: Loading of the second stage of LOX begins
- 00:07:00: Falcon 9 starts engine cooling before launch
- 00:01:00: Command the trip computer to initiate final checks before launch
- 00:01:00: Fuel tank pressure to flight pressure begins
- 00:00:45: SpaceX launch manager checks startup
- 00:00:03: Engine ignition sequence for engine control commands to start
- 00:00:00: Falcon 9 takes off
11:40 PM EST: SpaceX is now targeting a 12:45 a.m. EST launch tonight from Space Force Station Cape Canaveral. Hoping the weather will be clear in time.
11:05 PM EST: SpaceX is now targeting 12:30 AM EST on Wednesday, May 24th for this launch. Teams are still waiting for inclement weather to clear the head.
10:30 PM EST: Now it looks like SpaceX is not targeting before midnight EST for this launch from Cape Canaveral. Weather is still a concern, so the extra time may allow conditions to clear up a bit. Stay tuned.
It’s launch day! Here’s what you need to know about SpaceX’s upcoming launch in Florida
10 p.m. EST: SpaceX teams are counting down tonight’s launch of the BADR-8 communications satellite from Launch Complex 40. The Space Force said today that conditions will be about 30% “go” during the open window, but will improve to 50% “go” by the end (1:32 a.m.) EDT). Given the current circumstances, it’s probably fair to expect a push into tonight’s window.
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