Weather forces SpaceX to stand down a third time; will try again Friday – Florida Today

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SpaceXs third attempt to launch its next Starlink mission this week was scrubbed again on Thursday because of poor weather around Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Forecasters with the U.S. Space Forces Space Launch Delta 45 gave Thursdays opportunity only a 40% chance of acceptable liftoff weather conditions expecting more of the same rainy conditions that deluged areas around the spaceport Wednesday night.

The launch attempt slated for liftoff at 9:27 p.m. was called off about thirty seconds before liftoff setting SpaceX up for a 24-hour recycle. A fourth launch attempt is expected at 9:05 p.m. EDTon Friday, Sept. 16, although the weather outlook then doesnt look any more promising.

Space Force weather forecasters project only a 50% chance of go conditions at liftoff, the weather for a late evening launch attempt Friday evening looks similar to Thursday, with the primary weather concerns leftover anvil clouds and associated electric fields.

When it does launch, the Falcon 9 will loft another batch of dozens of Starlink internet-beaming satellites to join the more than 3,200 already in orbit.

The Falcon 9 is expected to land on a drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

It will mark SpaceXs 61st dedicated mission for the Starlink service and the 40th launch to fly from Florida this year.

Another SpaceX Falcon 9 mission can likely be expected before the end of the month, as well as NASAs next attempt to get its Space Launch System rocket and Artemis I mission off the ground.

For the latest, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.

Friday, Sept. 16: SpaceX Starlink

Live coverage: Starts 60 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space

About: SpaceX will launch the company's 61st batch of satellites for the Starlink internet constellation.

For the latest, visitfloridatoday.com/launchschedule.

Jamie Groh is a space reporter for Florida Today. You can contact her at JGroh@floridatoday.com. Follow her onTwitter at @AlteredJamie.

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Weather forces SpaceX to stand down a third time; will try again Friday - Florida Today