Launch Summary: Scroll down for live coverage of the Thursday, June 27, launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral during the Starlink 10-3 mission.
It’s another launch day on the Space Coast – with SpaceX planning a morning launch less than an hour after sunrise.
Welcome to the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team’s live broadcast of today’s SpaceX Starlink 10-3 mission from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX is targeting 7:14 a.m. EDT to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40. The Falcon 9 will carry an additional 23 Starlink Internet satellites into low Earth orbit.
No sonic booms are expected in Central Florida. After flying skyward along a northeasterly trajectory, the rocket’s first-stage booster will land on a SpaceX drone ship at sea nearly 8½ minutes after liftoff.
Cape Canaveral:Is there a launch today? Upcoming rocket launch schedule from SpaceX, NASA and ULA in Florida
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Update 07:22 am: The Falcon 9 first stage booster has just landed aboard SpaceX’s Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, concluding its groundbreaking 22nd mission.
“Falcon 9 lands on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship, completing the first 22nd booster launch and landing!” SpaceX officials said in a tweet.
To take off!
Update 7:14 am: SpaceX just launched the Falcon 9 with 23 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX launch webcast begins
Update 7:09 am: SpaceX’s launch webcast, hosted on X (formerly Twitter), is now posted above, directly below the countdown clock.
The launch is scheduled in five minutes from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Rocket launch in 10 minutes
Update 07:04 am: There are just 10 minutes left in the SpaceX launch countdown and it appears everything is set in motion.
After a brilliant orange sunrise, thin clouds stretch across the morning sky here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Press Site, within eyeshot of the launch pad.
SpaceX launch countdown timeline
Update 06:58 am: Below is an overview of SpaceX’s behind-the-scenes countdown timeline. T-minus:
- 16 minutes: The second phase of liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 7 minutes: The Falcon 9 begins cooling its engines before launch.
- 1 minute: The command flight computer starts the final checks before launch; the fuel tank is pressurized and adjusted to the flight pressure.
- 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies ‘go’ for launch.
- 3 seconds: The engine controller commands the engine firing sequence to start.
- 0 seconds: To take off.
SpaceX Falcon 9 refueling en route
Update 6:42 am: SpaceX just announced that Falcon 9 fueling procedures are underway at Launch Complex 40.
“All systems look good and weather is favorable for the Falcon 9 launch of 23 @Starlink satellites from Florida,” SpaceX officials said in a tweet.
That means the Starlink countdown is now locked to start without delay at 7:14 AM. Otherwise, today’s launch will have to be postponed.
SpaceX booster flies for the 22nd time
Update 6:30 am: Today’s mission is the 22nd flight of this Falcon 9 first stage booster, SpaceX reported.
The widely traveled booster previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8 and 14 Starlink missions.
After phase separation, crews expect the booster to land on the SpaceX drone ship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes and 13 seconds after launch.
Preparations for the SpaceX launch are underway in Brevard
Update 6:13 am: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s Launch Operations Support team in preparation for the upcoming launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
Space Force: 90% ‘go for launch’ weather
Update 05:57 am: The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 90% chance of “go for launch” meteorological conditions, with cumulus clouds posing the greatest threat.
“Surface high pressure will remain to the east, while the ridge axis will remain south of the FL Peninsula through the end of the week,” the squadron forecast said.
“Although sea breeze showers and thunderstorms are expected near the Cape in the afternoon and evening, most of the spaceport should remain dry during the primary and backup launch windows,” the forecast said.
This afternoon, the National Weather Service predicts temperatures in Melbourne will reach 94 degrees – with a sweltering heat index of 105.
For the latest news from Cape Canaveral, visit Space Force Station and KSC floridatoday.com/space.
Rik Neale is a space reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale atRneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
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