Brevard Space Coast Launch Site Rocket SpaceX ULA NASA
Here’s a quick look at which rockets launch from Brevard’s various launch sites.
The Florida Today space team will be covering tonight’s SpaceX mission live from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40.
SpaceX is trying to break a rare launch slump on the Space Coast tonight.
The SES/Astra communications satellite will be launched from Space Launch Complex 40 and placed into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff is scheduled for 5:35 pm EDT, although if more time is needed, the launch time will be extended by 2 hours and 49 minutes.
This is the first launch since nearly two weeks ago, on Friday, June 7, which was the first Starlink launch from Launch Complex 40.
Tonight’s launch comes after SpaceX was forced to abort the Starlink 10-2 mission, which had back-to-back weather cancellations and a pre-launch cancellation on Friday, a rare move for SpaceX. SpaceX opted to move the troubled Falcon 9 rocket aside because it could only use Space Launch Complex 40 as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s GOES U satellite was en route to launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.
This allowed SpaceX to deliver today’s mission, Astra 1P/SES-24, to the launch pad.
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Astra 1P/SES-24 is a communications satellite for the partnership between European communications organisations SES and Astra. Thales Alenia SpaceSES provides satellite television services in Germany, France and Spain, according to its website. Astra Satellites have provided television and radio to Germany since 1988.
The weather outlook is not ideal for tonight’s launch. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 55% chance of favorable weather during the assigned launch window. The primary weather concerns are lightning, winds at launch and cumulus clouds.
If SpaceX is unable to launch today, a backup opportunity will be available at the same time on Wednesday.
Falcon 9 is Just read the instructions A drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, so no local sonic booms are heard.
Updated 4:55 p.m.SpaceX updated the target time to 8:23 p.m. due to inclement weather.
Update, 4:46 p.m.: The weather at the Cape hasn’t changed much, but SpaceX has another 2 hours and 49 minutes to launch today.
The company is also scheduled to launch 20 Starlink satellites from California later tonight.
Update, 4:35 p.m.: Today’s SpaceX booster will be flying for the ninth time, with previous notable missions including the manned Axiom-2 and Axiom-3 missions, four Starlink missions, Euclid, and CRS-30.
SpaceX drone ship tonight
Update 4:26 p.m.: Today’s Falcon 9 Just read the instructions A drone over the Atlantic Ocean, the only sound to be expected is the familiar roar of a rocket.
The Falcon 9 will be ferried back to Port Canaveral, where it will be available for tours during a brief stopover.
Update, 4:15 p.m.: Welcome to a new release date!
It’s been almost two weeks since we saw the Falcon 9 launch.
45 peopleNumber Weather crews are predicting 55% favorable conditions for this evening’s launch window, which will begin at 5:38 pm EDT.
SpaceX said it has an additional two hours and 49 minutes of backup opportunity, which it hopes will move the weather away from the Cape region.
Brooke Edwards is Florida Today’s space reporter. She can be reached at bedwards@floridatoday.com or X: @brookeofstars.