Once again, SpaceX is scrubbing its launch on Friday. Here’s the statement from SpaceX.
SpaceX is standing down from the launch attempt of its thirteenth Starlink mission due to severe weather in the recovery area, which is likely to persist for a couple days. A new target launch date will be announced once confirmed.
This mission will lift off from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, launching 60 Starlink satellites to orbit. Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported launch of Crew Dragon’s first flight to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts onboard and the ANASIS-II mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. One of Falcon 9’s fairing halves supported two previous Starlink launches.
Here’s Thursday’s announcement…
All ready to go — but not today … SpaceX postpones its 13th launch cluster of Starlink communications satellites on Thursday, citing a “recovery issue.”
Originally the SpaceX launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket was planned for 2:19 p.m. EDT from Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center before it was called off at approximately 2 p.m.
While the company didn’t elaborate on the specific cause of the delay, SpaceX had planned to recover the first-stage rocket booster on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
The launch has been rescheduled for 1:57 p.m. EDT Friday, but a Space Force forcast predicts a 70 percent chance of unfavorable weather.
Here’s the announcement at the YouTube site
SpaceX is targeting Friday, September 18 at 1:57 p.m. EDT, 17:57 UTC, for launch of its thirteenth Starlink mission, which will launch 60 Starlink satellites to orbit. Falcon 9 will lift off from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported launch of Crew Dragon’s first flight to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts onboard and the ANASIS-II mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. One of Falcon 9’s fairing halves supported two previous Starlink launches.