Space is important to us which is why we work to provide you with the best industry coverage and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support him by subscribing here.
–
Update: SpaceX has halted this launch due to inclement weather around Kennedy Space Center on Thursday night. Teams are now targeting no earlier than 7:29 PM EST on Friday, April 28, for their next Falcon Heavy attempt. Tune in here for live coverage starting 90 minutes before take-off.
–
Tune in to live coverage of SpaceX’s targets at 8:26 PM EST Thursday, April 27, for the launch of the three-core Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Teams have a window of about an hour to launch the 230-foot rocket from Platform 39A, and they’ll likely need extra time—weather conditions before takeoff have been calculated by the Space Force at 20 percent “go” because of storms in the area.
Despite flying with three boosters strapped together, this Falcon Heavy mission will not involve any landings at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station or on an unmanned ship. Bringing the VIASAT-3 Americas communications satellite into geostationary orbit would use up so much rocket propellant that it would not have enough left for a boost landing.
Follow the live updates below:
cleaning!
7:03 PM EST: Not surprisingly, SpaceX has chosen to postpone this mission to no later than Friday, April 28, due to inclement weather at KSC. The 57-minute launch window for flight opens at 7:29 PM EST.
The countdown is holding
7 p.m. EST: The countdown clocks tick down at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the planned liftoff time of 8:26 p.m. EST. Waiting for a statement from SpaceX to see if that means a scrub or not. Stay tuned.
The weather is not improving
6:45 PM EST: Conditions at KSC continue to deteriorate ahead of Falcon Heavy’s launch at 8:26 PM EST from Kennedy Space Center. Near the Rockledge/Cocoa area, a funnel cloud has been observed.
New Falcon Heavy launch time
6:25 PM EST: Due to bad weather at Kennedy Space Center, SpaceX is now targeting the end of the window — 8:26 PM EST — for takeoff. Refueling should begin after 7:30 PM EST. Stay tuned.
The “no-go” weather for a SpaceX launch
5:50 PM EDT: Conditions at Plate 39A continue to swing in the red. Thunder is brewing in the air, there’s a steady downpour, and our view of KSC’s Falcon Heavy is completely obscured. There is still 45 minutes before teams decide whether or not to fuel the Falcon Heavy. Still targeting 7:29 PM EST for take off.
Falcon Heavy countdown
5:30 p.m. EDT: Teams at Kennedy Space Center Launch Control continue the countdown to the launch of the three-core Falcon Heavy rocket at 7:29 p.m. EDT. Weather is currently “no-go” due to storms in the area, but SpaceX is moving ahead with operations.
“Extreme travel lover. Bacon fanatic. Troublemaker. Introvert. Passionate music fanatic.”
More Stories
“The Tortured Poets Oath” drops at midnight. What to know about Taylor Swift's latest album
Pluto's core was likely created by an ancient collision
'The Wiz' review: A black classic returns to Broadway