Scrub! SpaceX postpones Starlink Falcon 9 launch to Sunday from Cape Canaveral, Florida
Scroll down for FLORIDA TODAY Space Team live coverage of Saturday's scrubbed SpaceX Starlink launch attempt from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
After two hours of delays, SpaceX announced it is now targeting 4:34 p.m. EST Sunday to launch a Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 6-39 mission from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming rocket launch schedule for SpaceX, NASA in Florida
Scrub!
Update 7:05 p.m.: SpaceX has scrubbed tonight's launch attempt. No further information has been released as to why.
Liftoff is now targeted for 4:34 p.m. Sunday, with backup opportunities available if needed until 8:34 p.m.
Now targeting Sunday, February 25 for Falcon 9 to launch @Starlink → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 24, 2024
SpaceX backup opportunities available Sunday
Update 6:33 p.m.: Should tonight's Falcon 9 launch get scrubbed, SpaceX announced that more opportunities are available starting at 4:34 p.m. Sunday.
Launch pushed back again, to 8:59 p.m.
Update 5:39 p.m. SpaceX has again postponed tonight's liftoff target time, per the company website.
Now, launch is scheduled for 8:59 p.m. — four hours later than originally announced.
SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard
Update 5:27 p.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of the upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 launch.
2/24/24 3:59 PM | We have activated our launch operations support team in preparation for the SpaceX Falcon9 launch. Window: 4:59-8:59 PM pic.twitter.com/Tqbpvp8ciI
— Brevard EOC (@BrevardEOC) February 24, 2024
SpaceX aims for another Starlink launch Wednesday
Update 5:07 p.m.: Assuming tonight's Falcon 9 launch goes as planned, a new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning indicates SpaceX will aim for its next Starlink window on Wednesday — not Tuesday, as initially planned.
Wednesday launch window hours: 11 a.m. to 2:31 p.m.
SpaceX has yet to publicly announce this Starlink 6-40 mission.
Launch now happening after KSCVC closes
Update 4:36 p.m.: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex officials will now close the tourist attraction at 5 p.m., since SpaceX officials postponed the original 4:59 p.m. liftoff target time.
SpaceX is now targeting 6:41 p.m. for liftoff. Due the launch being scheduled outside of operating hours, the visitor complex will close as normal at 5 p.m.
— Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (@ExploreSpaceKSC) February 24, 2024
SpaceX pushes back liftoff to 6:41 p.m.
Update 3:40 p.m.: SpaceX has moved back the target liftoff time more than 1? hours, from 4:59 p.m. to 6:41 p.m.
?SOUTHERLY LAUNCH ALERT?
Tomorrow, SLD45 will support the Falcon 9 Starlink 6-39 launch.
The launch window opens at 16:59 EST (21:59 UTC) on Feb. 24.
Expected T-0 may vary.
Hazard and airspace closure areas at https://t.co/nWgTbtgMnB pic.twitter.com/yhWIZm4nB6— Space Launch Delta 45 (@SLDelta45) February 23, 2024
For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Scrub! SpaceX postpones Falcon 9 launch to Sunday afternoon from Cape