It’s another weekend launch day — the second straight morning launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Space Coast.
Welcome to the Florida Today Space Team live broadcast of today’s SpaceX Starlink 10-7 mission. SpaceX is now on target for 10:49 a.m. EDT — more than three hours later than originally scheduled — for the launch of Falcon 9 and its payload of 23 Starlink satellites from Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
In case of further delays, backup release opportunities will be limited to 10:59 AM. No Central Florida sonic boom is expected. After heading skyward on a northeast trajectory, the rocket’s first-stage booster will aim to land aboard a SpaceX drone in the ocean eight minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX’s live webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) will be posted below the countdown clock when it becomes available approximately five minutes before liftoff.
Space Force: 90% odds of favorable weather
Updated 9:29 am: Today’s Falcon 9 launch attempt should see a 90% chance of “go to launch” weather, according to the Space Force’s 45th Weather Wing.
The team predicted a similar 90% odds during the mission’s Monday morning backup window.
“The axis of the Atlantic subtropical ridge currently over the Florida Keys will slowly move northward over the next few days. This system will bring seasonal afternoon thunderstorm activity, and conditions should be favorable for either window,” the force forecast.
“The primary concern each morning will be a breach of the cumulus cloud rule, particularly towards the end of the window, as sea breezes develop and begin to move inland across the Cape,” the forecast said.
SpaceX’s launch was delayed by more than three hours
Updated 9:14 am: Liftoff this morning was originally scheduled for 7:21 a.m., then the SpaceX crew gradually adjusted to 7:23 a.m.
But there was a delay. SpaceX pushed back the launch time to 9:41 a.m. — and liftoff was later pushed back to 10:49 a.m. SpaceX has not publicly disclosed details of these delays.
Check out the latest news and launch schedules from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. floridatoday.com/space.
Rick Neal Today he is a space reporter in Florida. Contact at Neely[email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
