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Follow live updates as SpaceX aims to launch a tri-core Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, April 30 at 8:26 p.m. EDT.
Originally scheduled to fly at 7:29 p.m. EDT, SpaceX said teams are now targeting the end of the window due to strong surface winds on Pad 39A. That means Falcon Heavy, which essentially consists of three Falcon 9 rockets strapped together, must fly at 8:26 p.m. EDT or be postponed to another day. Weather was last calculated with 95% “go”.
Wrapped up in Falcon Heavy’s payload fairing is ViaSat-3 Americas, a commercial communications satellite. This mission will not involve local jump start landings at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station or the landing of a drone ship.
Follow the live updates below:
8 p.m. EDT: The teams at KSC’s Launch Control Center continue to count down to launch at 8:26 p.m. EDT. No showstoppers so far.
– Emre Kelly
7:45 p.m. EDT: It’s worth remembering that tonight’s Falcon Heavy launch will not include booster landings at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Due to the weight of the ViaSat-3 Americas satellite and its need to achieve geostationary orbit, the trinuclear rocket will not have enough fuel left to turn around and return to recovery. This also applies to the middle core. This mission marks the first time SpaceX has launched the rocket with the intention of launching it into the Atlantic Ocean.
On the plus side, the weather is significantly better than earlier this week. Scroll the photo below to see a direct lightning strike of Pad 39A’s suppression system thanks to Thursday’s violent storms.
– Emre Kelly
7:33 p.m. EDT: SpaceX confirms that refueling of the three-core Falcon Heavy rocket at Kennedy Space Center is now underway. Teams targeting the 8:26 p.m. EDT start or end of this evening’s window. The latest Space Force weather update shows conditions are 95% “go” for launch.
– Emre Kelly
7:26 p.m. EDT: At T-minus an hour before Falcon Heavy launches, SpaceX will soon – in the next few minutes – decide whether or not to refuel the rocket at Pad 39A. If so, we might consider a timely launch at 8:26 p.m. EDT, assuming surface winds cooperate.
– Emre Kelly
6:55 p.m. EDT: SpaceX continues to count down to the launch of Falcon Heavy tonight at 8:26 p.m. EDT. Strong surface winds continue to be a concern. The next big milestone is refueling; Timeline below:
- T-minus 00:53:00: SpaceX’s launch director confirms that the propellant charge is being used
- 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
6:20 p.m. EDT: Tonight’s strong surface winds, which forced SpaceX to push Falcon Heavy’s launch at 8:26 p.m. EDT to the end of the window, have eased somewhat at Kennedy Space Center. It remains to be seen if conditions are still in the red but teams have plenty of time to wait for the weather to improve.
– Emre Kelly
5:30 p.m. EDT: SpaceX teams at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Control Center have decided to delay the Falcon Heavy launch tonight from Pad 39A due to strong surface winds. Launch is now scheduled for 8:26 p.m. EDT or the end of today’s timeslot. We can confirm that strong gusts are sweeping through the KSC area.
– Emre Kelly
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