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Watch live as SpaceX aims to launch a Falcon Heavy rocket carrying a commercial communications satellite from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, April 28 at 8:26 p.m. EDT. It is the second of two missions flying out of Florida today, the first of which took off at 6:12 p.m. EDT.
Launched: SpaceX Falcon 9 SES O3b mPOWER 3 & 4
The first mission that evening was for SES, a Luxembourg-based satellite operator. Shortly after liftoff at 6:12 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Falcon 9 was flying an easterly trajectory and the first stage booster was aimed at a drone ship that was landing in the Atlantic.
Countdown is on: SpaceX Falcon Heavy ViaSat-3 Americas
Another SpaceX mission is also scheduled to launch tonight from nearby Kennedy Space Center. A tri-core Falcon Heavy with two communications satellites is scheduled to lift off from pad 39A at 8:26 p.m. EDT. Space Force forecasters have predicted a 70% chance of “Go” weather.
Follow the live updates of both missions below (requires manual update):
8:15 p.m. EDT: The second Space Coast launch of the night is upon us. Teams will continue counting until the 8:26 p.m. EDT start. Here’s what’s left in the count:
- 00:07:00: Falcon Heavy begins engine cooling
- 00:00:59: The flight computer orders the final pre-takeoff checks to begin
- 00:00:45: SpaceX Launch Director confirms clearance for launch
- 00:00:20: Fuel tanks are pressurized for flight
- 00:00:06: The engine controller commands the engine ignition sequence to start
- 00:00:00: Falcon Heavy takes off
– Emre Kelly
8:05 p.m. EDT: Everything is going as planned for tonight’s Falcon Heavy launch. Compared to the last attempt, the conditions are significantly better – especially since yesterday’s violent storms actually led to a lightning strike on Pad 39A (picture below). Still on target for 8:26pm EDT.
– Emre Kelly
7:50 p.m. EDT: SpaceX continues to count down to today’s Falcon Heavy launch at 35 minutes or 8:26 p.m. EDT. As a reminder, this flight will not include booster landings at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station due to the weight and destination of the onboard ViaSat communications satellite. There won’t be enough fuel left to return to the cape and do landing burns, so SpaceX will opt to dump all three stages into the Atlantic Ocean instead.
– Emre Kelly
7:30 p.m. EDT: SpaceX is ready to refuel the Falcon Heavy tri-core rocket at Pad 39A. So far the weather is a lot better out here today than yesterday. Space Force forecasters are forecasting 70% launch conditions for launch at 8:26 p.m. EDT, then eastbound flight. No booster landings this time.
– Emre Kelly
7:10 p.m. EDT: SpaceX continues to count down to Falcon Heavy launch at 8:26 p.m. EDT. Here is the timeline:
- 00:53:00: The SpaceX Launch Director confirms that the propellant should be loaded
- 00:50:00: 1st stage RP-1 (rocket kerosene) loading begins
- 00:45:00: 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
- 00:35:00: 2nd stage RP-1 (rocket kerosene) loading begins
- 00:18:30: Stage 2 LOX loading begins
- 00:07:00: Falcon Heavy begins engine cooling
- 00:00:59: The flight computer orders the final pre-takeoff checks to begin
- 00:00:45: SpaceX Launch Director confirms clearance for launch
- 00:00:20: Fuel tanks are pressurized for flight
- 00:00:06: The engine controller commands the engine ignition sequence to start
- 00:00:00: Falcon Heavy takes off
– Emre Kelly
6:33 p.m. EDT: SpaceX is now targeting 8:26 p.m. EDT for the next launch from nearby Kennedy Space Center. That’s almost the end of the window, so there’s no real flying beyond that. Falcon Heavy’s refueling process was scheduled to begin at 7:33 p.m. EDT. Stay tuned.
– Emre Kelly
6:21 p.m. ET: The 162-foot Falcon 9 first stage booster successfully landed on the Atlantic-based drone ship Just Read the Instructions, completing its second voyage into space.
-Jamie Groh
6:12 p.m. ET: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 has lifted off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida carrying the SES O3b mPOWER 3 and 4 satellites.
-Jamie Groh
6:11 p.m. ET: SpaceX is now just a minute away from launching the Falcon 9 with the SES O3b mPOWER 3 & 4 satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Space is watching the weather, but the Range and Falcon 9 are ready for launch.
-Jamie Groh
6:02 p.m. ET: SpaceX is now just 10 minutes from the Falcon 9 launch with the SES O3b mPOWER 3 & 4 satellites from Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
-Jamie Groh
- 00:16:00 Stage 2 LOX loading begins
- 00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine cooling prior to liftoff
- 00:01:00 Command the flight computer to begin final pre-takeoff checks
- 00:01:00 Pressurization of the fuel tank to flight pressure begins
- 00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director confirms launch clearance
- 00:00:03 The engine control commands the start of the engine ignition sequence
- 00:00:00 Falcon 9 takes off
-Jamie Groh
5:36 p.m. ET: SpaceX’s launch supervisor is ready to refuel the Falcon 9 for a targeted launch at 6:12 p.m. ET from Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
-Jamie Groh
4:54 p.m. ET: SpaceX has set a new T-zero of 6:12 p.m. ET for the Falcon 9 launch from Pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. No reason was given for the additional 30-minute delay.
-Jamie Groh
4:42 p.m. ET: According to SpaceX, the weather is developing more favorably for the first of two launches tonight. Below is an updated look at conditions across Florida. Mostly cloudy skies but clouds are high and sparse in contrast to cumulus and/or anvil clouds associated with thunderstorms that would hinder liftoff.
4:30 p.m. ET: SpaceX has set a new T-zero of 5:42 p.m. ET for the Falcon 9 launch from Pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. No reason was given for the 30-minute delay.
-Jamie Groh
4:20 p.m. ET: SpaceX reports that the chances of favorable weather conditions for launch have improved to 70%. SpaceX is still working on a 5:12 p.m. ET launch from Pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
-Jamie Groh
4:12 p.m. ET: With one hour until Falcon 9 liftoff from Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the countdown clocks continue to T-zero of 5:12 p.m. Everything seems to be on track and the weather so far seems to be holding out as favorable. Stay tuned.
-Jamie Groh
3:45 p.m. ET: SpaceX launch teams are counting down to the Falcon 9 launch at 5:12 p.m. EDT from Pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this afternoon. Today’s mission will put into orbit two communications satellites for SES, a Luxembourg-based satellite operator. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the start of tanking.
-Jamie Groh
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