KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — The weather has forced SpaceX to scrub its Friday night launch of more than 20 Starlink satellites and pushing the mission to the following evening.

What You Need To Know

  • More than 20 Starlink satellites will be launched

  • The liftoff will happen at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center

  • The launch window opens at 7:29 p.m. ET, Saturday

SpaceX posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that due to unfavorable weather, it would try for Saturday at 7:29 p.m. ET to launch the Starlink 6-42 mission, with backup chances open until 11:29 p.m. ET.

SpaceX was eyeing for Friday, 7:57 p.m. ET for the mission.  

But it was suspected that the launch would not happen on Friday evening. The 45th Weather Squadron did call for a 25% chance of good liftoff conditions, with the concerns being liftoff winds and the anvil cloud and cumulus cloud rules.

“Conditions will deteriorate through the day Friday as the Gulf Low moves northeast, bringing gusty winds, showers, and isolated thunderstorms across Central Florida,” the squadron stated.

Liftoff conditions will improve for Saturday night, increasing to 75% chance favorable, stated the squadron, adding that winds and the cumulus cloud rule were the only issues.

For the launch, the Falcon 9 rocket is supposed to leave Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center and send the Starlink 6-42 mission to low-Earth orbit.

If Saturday night’s launch is scrubbed, the next chance will be Sunday at 7:04 p.m. ET, stated SpaceX.

A little first-stage booster history

Named B1060, this Falcon 9 first-stage booster for the Starlink 6-42 mission already has an impressive resume with 18 memorable launches.

After the stage separation, the rocket is expected to land on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed out in the Atlantic Ocean.

Understanding the mission

SpaceX plans to send up 23 Starlink satellites, where it will provide internet services with the others already in low-Earth orbit.

Starlink is a company owned by SpaceX.

Before the launch, Dr. Jonathan McDowell of Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics recorded the following Starlink satellites.

  • 5,634 are in orbit
  • 5,564 in working order
  • 5,154 are in operational orbit

 

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