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A quick look at which rockets lift off from various Brevard launch sites.
It’s another weekend launch day — with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket scheduled to lift off for the second straight morning from Florida’s Space Coast.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY Space Team live coverage of today’s SpaceX Starlink 10-7 mission. SpaceX is now targeting 10:59 a.m. EDT — more than four hours later than initially scheduled — to launch the Falcon 9 and its payload of 23 Starlink satellites from pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
No Central Florida sonic booms are expected. After soaring skyward along a northeasterly trajectory, the rocket’s first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship out at sea roughly eight minutes after liftoff.
When SpaceX’s live webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) becomes available about five minutes before liftoff, it will be posted below the countdown clock.
Update 10:35 a.m.: This morning’s mission marks the Falcon 9 first-stage booster’s 17th flight, SpaceX reported.
The booster previously launched SES-22, ispace’s HAKUTO-R MISSION 1, Amazonas-6, CRS-27, Bandwagon-1 and 11 Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land on the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 12 seconds after liftoff.
Update 10:25 a.m.: SpaceX just announced Falcon 9 fueling procedures are finally about to begin at pad 39A, and “weather is looking good.”
That means tonight’s Starlink countdown will be locked in to lift off at 10:59 a.m. without any delays, or else the launch must be postponed to Monday morning at the earliest.
Update 10:16 a.m.: SpaceX just announced today’s launch target is now 10:59 a.m. — the very end of the window.
If any more delays arise, SpaceX’s next opportunities start at 6:37 a.m. Monday.
Update 10 a.m.: Following is a rundown of SpaceX’s behind-the-scenes countdown timeline. T-minus:
- 38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load.
- 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
- 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.
- 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
- 0 seconds: Liftoff.
Update 9:45 a.m.: The Brevard County Emergency Management launch operations support team is on the job ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
Update 9:29 a.m.: Today’s Falcon 9 launch attempt should see 90% odds of “go for launch” weather, per the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron.
The squadron forecasts identical 90% odds during the mission’s Monday morning backup window.
“The Atlantic subtropical ridge axis, currently located over the Florida Keys, will be moving slowly northward over the next several days. This pattern brings seasonal afternoon thunderstorm activity, and conditions should be favorable for either window,” the squadron’s forecast said.
“The primary concern each morning will be for a Cumulus Cloud Rule violation, particularly near the end of the window, as the sea breeze starts to form and move inland across the Cape,” the forecast said.
Update 9:14 a.m.: This morning’s liftoff was originally 7:21 a.m., which SpaceX crews later incrementally adjusted to 7:23 a.m.
But delays arose. SpaceX pushed back the launch time to 9:41 a.m. — then postponed liftoff again to 10:49 a.m. SpaceX has not publicly released details on these delays.
For the latest news and launch schedule 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. Contact Neale at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
Dr. Sarah Adams is a scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to all. Her articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
