SpaceX delays launch until late Friday from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX delays launch until late Friday from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX opted out of a midnight launch, but will try again late Friday on what would be its 65th orbital mission of the year.

A Falcon 9 carrying 22 of the company’s Starlink internet satellites is now targeting an 11:38 p.m. liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40  with a backup opportunity early Saturday at 12:07 a.m. and two more options late Saturday at 11:13 p.m. and 11:38 p.m.

The first-stage booster for the mission is making its fifth flight targeting a landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic.

Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron had forecast 65% chance of good conditions, dropping to 45% in event of a 24-hour delay. Both days had booster recovery weather a concern as Hurricane Lee in the Atlantic is kicking up swells that are affecting the U.S. East Coast and would be a threat to the droneship.

It marks the 49th Space Coast launch of the year with all but three coming from SpaceX.

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Across all of its launch pads, though, it marks SpaceX’ 65th orbital launch of the year: 36 from Cape Canaveral, 10 from Kennedy Space Center and 19 from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base.

That doesn’t include the Starship and Super Heavy launch attempt from Texas in April that ended short of orbital altitude. Its awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for a second attempt with the new massive rocket already on the new and improved launch pad.

The company already surpassed its 2022 record of 61 launches back on Sept. 3 and is on track to reach at least 80 for the year.

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