Launch recap: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch in Florida lights up predawn Saturday sky
Original story: Anyone waking up early Saturday morning will want to take a look outside, as SpaceX plans to launch a Falcon 9 rocket during the predawn hours.
SpaceX has confirmed it is now targeting a 5:01 a.m. launch. The rocket will take off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and travel on a northeast trajectory.
The mission is known as Starlink 10-26, and is the latest batch of SpaceX's Starlink satellites. Starlink is a satellite internet service by SpaceX, which delivers internet to customers in some of the most remote places on Earth.
No Space Coast sonic booms will be heard, as eight-and-a-half minutes past the liftoff, the rocket's booster will land on a SpaceX drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
When is the next Florida rocket launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral
The launch takes place on a milestone date, marking 20 years since the STS-114 space shuttle mission took off from Kennedy Space Center Pad 39B. The launch of Discovery on the STS-114 mission on July 26, 2005, marked the return to flight for the space shuttle after the Columbia tragedy investigation.
Columbia broke apart during reentry on February 1, 2003, killing all seven astronauts onboard. A more than two-year investigation led to the finding that the shuttle's thermal protection on the left wing had been damaged by a chunk of foam insulation that broke off during liftoff.
Countdown Timer
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Update 5:10 a.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean, completing its 22nd mission.
SpaceX liftoff!
Update 5:01 a.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying 28 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral SLC-40!
SpaceX launch webcast begins
Update 4:56 a.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, right below the countdown clock.
Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
This morning's SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch in Florida
Update 4:51 a.m.: T-10 minutes! Head outside if you plan on catching this launch! If you have clear skies, it will be hard to miss the bright rocket rising into the predawn sky.
Simply look towards the direction South of Kennedy Space Center from your direction.
SpaceX launch countdown timeline
Update 4:45 a.m.: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading should have now begun.
Here's a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX's countdown timeline. T-minus:
38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies 'go' for propellant load.
35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies 'go' for launch.
3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
0 seconds: Liftoff.
SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling now underway
Update 4:32 a.m.: Visual cues indicate Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40, though SpaceX has yet to make an official announcement.
That means tonight's Starlink mission is now locked in to lift off at 5:01 a.m. without any countdown delays, or else the launch must be postponed.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral
Update 4:25 a.m.: The Falcon 9 launching this morning will see its 22nd flight. It previously supported 17 other Starlink missions. Other missions it saw include NASA's Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER-B, USSF-124, and Bluebird 1-5.
SpaceX drone ship
Update 4:10 a.m.: This morning's liftoff is still set for 5:01 a.m. There will be no Space Coast sonic booms, at the rocket's booster will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas drone ship, which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard
Update 3:55 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX's upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
SpaceX Dragon prepared ahead of NASA Crew-11 launch
Update 3:42 a.m.: NASA's Crew-11 astronauts will launch in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than July 31 from Kennedy Space Center.
SpaceX posted this update on the Dragon reaching the hangar at the launch pad.
The crew is slated to fly into Kennedy Space Center this afternoon ahead of the launch.
SpaceX launch in Florida weather
Update 3:30 a.m.: Weather is currently clear in Brevard. The 45th Weather Squadron has predicted a 95% chance of favorable conditions for this launch window.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Launch recap: SpaceX rocket launch in Cape Canaveral early Saturday
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