Start summary: Scroll down to review live coverage of the Thursday, June 27 liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on Starlink mission 10-3.
It’s another launch day on the Space Coast — with SpaceX planning a morning liftoff less than an hour after sunrise.
Welcome to the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team’s live coverage of today’s SpaceX Starlink mission 10-3 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 place another set of 23 Starlink Internet satellites into low Earth orbit.
No sonic booms are expected in Central Florida. After flying skyward along a northeast trajectory, the rocket’s first stage booster will aim to land aboard a SpaceX drone ship at sea nearly 8 1/2 minutes after liftoff.
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SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Update at 07:22: The Falcon 9 first stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX’s Just Read Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its groundbreaking 22nd mission.
“Falcon 9 lands on Just Read the Instructions drone plane, completing 22nd first launch and landing a booster!” SpaceX officials said in a tweet.
Rise!
Update at 07:14: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 with 23 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Webcast of SpaceX launch begins
Update at 7:09 am: The SpaceX launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, just below the countdown clock.
Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The launch of the rocket comes in 10 minutes
Update at 07:04: With 10 minutes left in SpaceX’s launch countdown, it all seems to be taking off.
After a brilliant orange sunrise, wispy clouds stretch across the morning sky here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center press site, within view of the launch pad.
SpaceX’s launch countdown timeline
Update at 6:58 am: The following is a timeline summary of SpaceX’s behind-the-scenes countdown. T-minus:
- 16 minutes: Liquid oxygen charging begins in the second stage.
- 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine cooling before launch.
- 1 minute: The command flight computer initiates final pre-departure checks; Start pressurizing the fuel tank to flight pressure.
- 45 seconds: SpaceX’s launch director verifies the “go” for launch.
- 3 seconds: The engine controller commands the ignition sequence of the engine to start.
- 0 seconds: Rise.
SpaceX Falcon 9 is in the process of refueling
Update at 6:42 am: SpaceX just announced that Falcon 9 refueling procedures are underway at Launch Complex 40.
“All systems look good and weather is favorable for today’s Falcon 9 launch of 23 @Starlink satellites from Florida,” SpaceX officials said in a tweet.
This means that the Starlink countdown is now locked to lift off at 7:14am without any delay, or else today’s launch must be postponed.
SpaceX’s booster will fly for the 22nd time
Update at 6:30 am: Today’s mission marks the 22nd flight for this Falcon 9 first stage booster, SpaceX reported.
The well-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 wait for the booster to land on the SpaceX Just Read Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 13 seconds after liftoff.
Preparation for the SpaceX launch is underway in Brevard
Update at 06:13: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
Space Force: 90% ‘go for launch’ weather
Update at 5:57 am: The Air Force’s 45th Weather Squadron is predicting a 90% chance of “go-to” meteorological conditions, with cumulus clouds posing the primary threat.
“High surface pressure will remain to our east, with the axis of the ridge extending south of the FL peninsula through the end of the week,” the squadron forecast said.
“Although sea breeze showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop in the afternoon and evening near the Cape, most of the spaceport should remain dry during the initial and backup launch windows,” the forecast said.
This afternoon, the National Weather Service predicts the mercury will reach 94 degrees in Melbourne – with a high heat index of 105.
For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and KSC, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Rick Neale is a space reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale atRneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
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