SpaceX is looking to launch Starlink late Thursday night from Cape Canaveral
Brevard Space Coast SpaceX ULA NASA rocket launch sites
A quick look at the rockets launching from different Brevard launch sites.
SpaceX is targeting a late-night launch of its Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday — but will rain and cloud cover sweeping Cape Canaveral Space Force Station nix that plan?
Stay tuned. Although SpaceX has not yet confirmed the existence of this mission, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Federal Aviation Administration navigational warnings indicate that the launch window for the rocket will open at 11pm on Thursday. The window extends after midnight until 3:31 a.m. on Friday.
“It’s going to be a bit of a challenging forecast, because of exactly where this low pressure is developing and where it’s going, and how quickly it’s moving away from the area later this week,” said Derek Wittlich, climate program leader at the National Weather Service. The Melbourne service station said Tuesday morning.
“But through Wednesday and Thursday, we’re looking at stormy conditions on the coast, increased rain chances and some potential for some flooding impacts,” Veitlich said.
In fact, star meteorologist Jim Cantor of The Weather Channel tweeted Tuesday about the bleak forecast for the Space Coast: “If you like big waves and winds on the beach, this is the place to be for the next couple of days. Bring a rain jacket too :)”
- on: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the company’s latest batch of Internet-broadcasting Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- location: Launch Complex 40.
- a path: southeast.
- Local sonic boom: no.
- Booster landing: Drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
- Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before takeoff at floridatoday.com/space.
National Weather Service Flood Watch
A low pressure system developing off the coast of Southeast Florida could move north toward central Florida, Wittlich said. Or the boundary could accelerate and move offshore.
The NWS issued a flood watch for Brevard County from 1 p.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Thursday, forecasting widespread rainfall of 1 to 3 inches – with up to a half-foot of rain inundating some locations.
For Thursday night at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the NWS forecast now calls for a 60% increased chance of rain, with showers and thunderstorms possible before 1 a.m. Skies should be partly cloudy with the temperature dropping to around 70, with east winds 20 to 25 mph decreasing after midnight to 15 to 20 mph. Wind speeds can reach 35 mph.
High surf advisories will remain in effect for Brevard beaches until 4 a.m. Friday, along with a high risk of dangerous rip currents.
The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron had not yet issued a launch forecast Wednesday morning.
more: Rocket launch schedule: Upcoming launches and landings in Florida
Rick Neil He is Florida Today’s space correspondent (for more of his stories, click here.) Call Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @Rick Neal1
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