SpaceX Falcon 9 launch early Wednesday morning marks 65th this year from Cape Canaveral

After a series of delays totaling nearly four hours, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket early Wednesday morning while most Space Coast residents were fast asleep.

The Starlink 6-29 mission, which elevated another batch of 23 internet-beaming satellites into low-Earth orbit, was initially scheduled for liftoff at 11:01 p.m. EST Tuesday.

But the launch ended up happening at 2:47 a.m. EST Wednesday. Visibility extended up to 10 miles at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station when the rocket left Launch Complex 40, the National Weather Service reported.

The Falcon 9 first-stage booster landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean after stage separation, completing its 15th mission.

Wednesday's mission marked the 65th orbital launch of the year thus far from the Space Coast, extending the ongoing annual record.

SpaceX's next scheduled launch from the Cape remains unknown. For the latest schedule updates from the Cape, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.

Quelle: Florida Today

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