SpaceX targeting atypical Thursday morning Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX is now targeting an unusually timed Thursday morning Falcon 9 rocket launch, hot on the heels of Tuesday's photogenic Falcon Heavy evening liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Thursday's Starlink 10-3 mission is scheduled for liftoff at 7:14 a.m. EDT, with backup opportunities available until 11 a.m.

The Falcon 9 will take flight from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Unlike the Falcon Heavy mission — when both rocket boosters descended for landings at the Space Force installation— Thursday's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship out at sea more than 8 minutes after liftoff.

Therefore, no Central Florida sonic booms should occur.

The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron reported 90% odds of "go for launch" meteorological conditions, with cumulus clouds posing the top threat.

"Surface high pressure will remain to our east, with the ridge axis lingering south of the FL peninsula through the end of week," the squadron's forecast said.

"Although sea breeze showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop in the afternoon and evening near the Cape, most of the spaceport should remain dry during the primary and back-up launch windows," the forecast said.

Quelle: Florida Today

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STARLINK MISISON

On Thursday, June 27 at 7:14 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

This was the 22nd flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8, and now 15 Starlink missions.