Space Force Station Cape Canaveral is preparing to host back-to-back launches this weekend.
The SpaceX teams are waking up Friday night one more with another Falcon 9 flight loaded with more Starlink internet satellites. Then, on Saturday morning, the focus turned to the United Launch Alliance’s second attempt to launch an Atlas V rocket from Earth for a national security mission for the Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office.
According to Space Force forecasters, weather conditions around the Cape should be suitable for both missions.
The third mission, a weapons test of a hypersonic missile system at the Cape, was canceled by the Ministry of Defense on Wednesday.
“The Department planned to conduct a flight test at Space Force Station Cape Canaveral, Florida, to guide the development of our hypersonic technology. As a result of pre-flight checks, the test did not occur,” the Secretary of Defense’s office said. Florida Today in a statement. “The delivery of hypersonic weapons remains a top priority for the Department.”
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SpaceX is scheduled to launch Friday night
The Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch another batch of SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites into orbit between 7:32 p.m. and 11:31 p.m. EST on Friday. Starlink 6-14 will launch from Cape 40 Launch Complex.
“By Friday evening, an intermediate low will be centered over Georgia and provide enough moisture for afternoon thunderstorms to develop over central Florida,” meteorologists from the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron said in a report this week. “The chances of scattered thunderstorms are greatest in the late afternoon through early evening on Friday and decrease in the evening hours.”
Because of the still possibility of thunderstorms and lightning on Friday evening, forecasters expected conditions to be “stable” at 60% when the launch window opens. Conditions are expected to improve overnight to 85% “go” by the end of the window.
Recovery conditions for a booster landing at sea on an unmanned vessel are listed as “low risk”.
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ULA prepares for liftoff from Atlas V on Saturday morning
After the delayed exit from Hurricane Adalia, The United Launch Alliance’s NROL-107 mission is set to fire its second salvo on Saturday morning from Cape’s Launch Complex 41.
On Thursday morning, ULA teams pushed the rocket to the launch pad after it was positioned at the nearby Vertical Integration Facility for storm protection.
The payloads are part of the Space Force’s Silent Barker satellite constellation network that aims to provide space situational awareness, orbital monitoring, and tracking.
The 196-foot-tall Atlas V rocket, equipped with five side-mounted solid rocket boosters, is scheduled to fly on a classified National Security Mission for the Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office at 8:51 a.m. EDT Saturday.
“Weather conditions at launch appear generally favorable for Saturday morning, with dry, mid-level air limiting Atlantic shower coverage, and most daytime shower/storm activity unlikely,” forecasters said in a report released earlier this week. Until later in the day.”
Overall, forecasters forecast 85% good weather conditions for Saturday’s attempt, citing a small chance of altocumulus as the only concern.
“The weather pattern looks very similar to Sunday’s reserve day, with the same breach potential and concerns,” the report said.
When those missions launch, follow FLORIDA TODAY’s space crew’s live coverage starting 90 minutes before each liftoff. For the latest launch schedule updates, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Contact Jimmy Groh at JGroh@floridatoday.com and follow her X.com at @AlteredJamie.
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Departure on Friday, September 8th
- Company/Agency: SpaceX’s internal mission
- rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9
- location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- launch window: 7:32 PM to 11:31 PM EST
- a path: southeast
- weather: 60% “go” which improves to 85% “go” by the end of the window
- Landing: unmanned ship
- Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before take-off at floridatoday.com/space
- on: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the company’s latest batch of Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Departure on Saturday, September 9th
- Company/Agency: United Launch Alliance for the Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office
- rocket: Atlas V 551
- location: Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- launch time: 8:51 a.m. EST
- a path: east
- weather: 85% “go”
- Landing: no one; Atlas V Expendable
- Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before take-off at floridatoday.com/space
- on: ULA’s Atlas V rocket will launch the classified NROL-107 national security mission for the US Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office. The payload is part of the Space Force’s Silent Barker satellite constellation network that aims to provide space situational awareness, orbital monitoring and tracking.