Updates: Following is live coverage of the 12:05 a.m. EDT Wednesday liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 6-27 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team live coverage of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Starlink 6-27 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX is now looking just past midnight — 12:05 a.m. EDT Wednesday, to be exact — to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
In case of delays, a sequence of six backup opportunities is available from 12:56 until 2:59 a.m. EDT, SpaceX reports.
The Falcon 9 will deploy a batch of 23 Starlink internet-beaming satellites, which are packed inside the 230-foot rocket’s payload fairing.
No local sonic booms are expected. After soaring skyward along a southeastern trajectory, the rocket’s first-stage booster will target landing aboard a drone ship out at sea 8½ minutes after liftoff.
More: Rocket launch schedule: Upcoming Florida launches and landings
Update 12:14 a.m. EDT: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX’s drone ship Just Read the Instructions out on the Atlantic Ocean, wrapping up its 11th flight.
Update 12:05 a.m. EDT: SpaceX has launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The first-stage booster should land on a drone ship out on the Atlantic Ocean in 8½ minutes.
Update 12:00 a.m. EDT: SpaceX’s live launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted at the top of this page.
Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Update 11:50 p.m. EDT: Fifteen minutes before SpaceX’s scheduled 12:05 a.m. EDT Falcon 9 launch, the countdown appears to be proceeding as planned. Fueling is well underway at Launch Complex 40.
As a reminder, a list of key upcoming countdown milestones. T-minus:
- 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: Falcon 9 liftoff.
Update 11:41 p.m. EDT: In a tweet, SpaceX officials announced that “all systems and weather are currently go for launch.”
Recall, the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron had predicted a greater than 95% chance of “go” conditions for tonight’s launch window.
Update 11:31 p.m. EDT: SpaceX just announced Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40.
That means the Starlink 6-27 mission is now committed to lift off at 12:05 a.m. EDT, or else the launch must be postponed.
Update 11:14 p.m. EDT: Tonight’s liftoff will mark the 11th flight for the Falcon 9 rocket’s first-stage booster, SpaceX reported.
The booster will target landing on the deck of the drone ship Just Read the Instructions out at sea 8 minutes, 23 seconds after liftoff.
Update 10:55 p.m. EDT: Following is a list of key milestones in the Falcon 9 countdown timeline:
- 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: Falcon 9 liftoff.
Update 10:37 p.m. EDT: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch operations support team ahead of tonight’s Falcon 9 launch.
The SpaceX Starlink 6-27 mission is scheduled shortly after Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez announced the Space Coast should rack up a record-shattering 80 orbital launches by year’s end — with more than 101 launches scheduled in 2024.
Nuñez spoke Monday during a Florida Space Art Contest press conference alongside Miami pop artist Romero Britto at Space Florida’s headquarters outside Kennedy Space Center.
Friday’s SpaceX Starlink mission marked the year’s 60th launch from the Cape, as Space Launch Delta 45 noted in a photo-packed tweet. Tonight’s launch would extend the Cape’s ongoing record of annual orbital launches to 61. For the latest schedule updates at the Cape, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Space Force: sky-high odds of ‘go’ weather
The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicts a greater than 95% chance of “go” launch conditions.
“High pressure remains anchored across Central Florida (Monday), providing light winds and lots of sunshine. Little weather changes are expected for Tuesday and Wednesday evening launch attempts,” the launch forecast said. Wednesday is the backup launch day.
“The primary launch weather concern for both attempts will be a slight risk of a Cumulus Cloud Rule violation,” the forecast said.
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
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.
