CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – SpaceX withdraws from launch of its next batch of Starlink satellites to allow time for additional Falcon 9 pre-checks.
The California-based space flight company was planning to launch another batch of its Starlink internet broadcast satellites and two BlackSky satellites on a previously flown flight. Falcon 9 rocket at 4:18 p.m. EST (GMT 2018) today from Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. However, the company decided to delay the launch attempt and a new date has yet to be set.
“Withdrawing from today’s Starlink mission; the team needed additional time for pre-launch payments, but Falcon 9 and the satellites are healthy.” SpaceX tweeted Friday evening. “It will announce the new target launch date once confirmed in the Range.”
The “Range” mentioned by SpaceX is the Eastern Range, which is part of the United States Space Force and is the entity that oversees launches from the Florida space coast. This Starlink release is one of two SpaceX releases on the Range schedule for this week.
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On June 30, a different Falcon 9 rocket will carry an upgraded version GPS satellite in orbit for the United States Space Force. That launch is slated to fly from SpaceX’s other launch site in Florida, Space Launch Complex 40. The global positioning satellite is part of an effort to upgrade the ancient constellation currently in space.
SpaceX has already postponed the launch of the GPS once this year, as the mission was originally scheduled to take off in April. Concerns about the coronavirus, coupled with the fact that the current GPS satellites were very healthy, meant that the launch could go back a bit. However, it takes precedence over SpaceX’s own satellites, so there could be some change in the release dates.
The rocket featured in this mission will be the third booster from the first stage to fly five times. Previously released SpaceX Demo-1 mission and Three Earth observation satellites for Canada in 2019, and two other Starlink missions this year.
Withdrawing from today’s Starlink mission; The team needed additional time for pre-launch payments, but Falcon 9 and the satellites are healthy. Will announce new target launch date once confirmed on Range June 26, 2020
The company’s previous mission, which exceeded 58 Starlinks and three small Earth observation satellites for Planet, was the first mission launched by SpaceX without conducting its traditional static pre-launch litmus test. However, the company decided to make its traditional payments before the launch attempt for this next mission.
On Wednesday (June 24), all nine propeller engines were briefly started as part of the routine static fire test. The test is designed to ensure that all of the rocket’s systems function properly before take-off.
By all appearances, the test seemed to go smoothly and SpaceX announced would attempt launch today (June 26). But that changed just over two hours before takeoff, and the company eventually pulled out and opted to subject the rocket to a few more tests.
Depending on exactly what caused the delay, SpaceX could wait until after Tuesday’s launch to take off the Starlink mission. Both unmanned ships have left Port Canaveral, so SpaceX is ready no matter which mission goes first.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with more details about the launch of SpaceX’s debugged Starlink.
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