KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – UPDATE: SpaceX was scheduled Friday to send up another round of internet-beaming satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket, however, Air Force officials confirmed the launch attempt has been called off.
No word from SpaceX yet on when the next attempt will be. The company could try again Saturday, according to the 45th Space Wing forecast.
SpaceX tweeted the team needed more time for additional pre-launch checkouts.
Both the Falcon 9 and satellites onboard are healthy.
Standing down from today’s Starlink mission; team needed additional time for pre-launch checkouts, but Falcon 9 and the satellites are healthy. Will announce new target launch date once confirmed on the Range
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 26, 2020
EARLIER STORY:
SpaceX is set to send up the 10th round of Starlink satellites Friday on a Falcon 9 rocket, sending the constellation total above 600. The company is launching dozens of satellites every other week in order to create a space-based global internet network, even providing internet access to remote areas.
On this launch, SpaceX will launch dozens of Starlink satellites as well as a ride-sharing mission for Earth-observation company BlackSky. The company purchased rides on the Falcon 9 for two of its satellites.
According to the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron, there is a 80% chance of good weather Friday afternoon for liftoff from Kennedy Space Center launch pad 39A.
“Overall, conditions look relatively favorable for the launch window,” the 45th Weather Squadron forecast states. The primary concerns for the launch window are cloud cover conditions.
Spaceflightnow.com reports SpaceX conducted a static fire of the Falcon 9 engines Wednesday evening.
Viewers capture spectacular images during the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch early Saturday morning.
The 10-minute launch window Friday opens at 4:18 p.m.
After launch, the Falcon 9 booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX successfully launched its 9th round of Starlink satellites on June 13 from Cape Canaveral.
The company recently created a new website where users can register to learn information about when Starlink internet service will be available.
According to the SpaceX website, “Starlink is targeting service in the Northern U.S. and Canada in 2020, rapidly expanding to near-global coverage of the populated world by 2021.”
SpaceX is also targeting June 30 for another Falcon 9 launch, this one from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 40.
Launch details
What: Falcon 9 rocket
Where: Kennedy Space Center launch pad 39A
Payload: Starlink and BlackSky satellites
Launch time: Friday at 4:18 p.m.
Landing: At sea
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