Update May 20, 12:14 a.m. EDT: SpaceX scrubbed its planned launch.
SpaceX scrubbed the planned launch of its 60th Falcon 9 rocket of the year just minutes before its midnight mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station took flight.
Liftoff Space Launch Complex 40 was targeting 11:58 p.m. EDT on May 19 (0358 UTC on May 20).
“Falcon 9 had an auto abort just prior to T-0,” SpaceX said in a social media post after the scrub.
Meteorologists said there was a “very small chance” for a launch weather violation due to cumulus clouds.
May 20 at 12:14 a.m. M. EDT: SpaceX canceled the launch that was scheduled.
Minutes before its midnight mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station took off, SpaceX canceled the launch of its 60th Falcon 9 rocket of the year. The business ended its broadcast before providing an explanation for the launch’s cancellation.
The Starlink 12-15 mission is scheduled to launch 23 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low-Earth orbit. Thirteen of those have the ability to connect directly to cells.
Liftoff Space Launch Complex 40 was aiming for 11:58 p.m. m. May 19, EDT (May 20, 0358 UTC). On Tuesday, May 20, beginning at 11:18 p.m., SpaceX will have a backup launch opportunity. m. EDT (0318 UTC), if it is prepared to proceed with the launch at that time.
Following the scrub, SpaceX stated on social media that Falcon 9 had an auto abort shortly before T-0. The payload and vehicle are in good condition, and teams are getting ready for a launch attempt on Tuesday, May 20 at the latest. “”.
A 95 percent chance of favorable weather during Monday’s launch window was predicted by the 45th Weather Squadron on Sunday. Cumulus clouds were cited by meteorologists as the reason for the “very small chance” of a launch weather violation.
On this mission, SpaceX will launch Falcon 9 booster 1095 for the first time. It was seen traveling to SLC-40 on Saturday afternoon when it passed the Kennedy Space Center Press Site.
B1095 is SpaceX’s fourth new booster launch this year. Though B1072 has only made one flight as a Falcon Heavy side booster during the June 2024 launch of the GOES-U weather satellite, the company currently has 18 other boosters in rotation.
Following liftoff, B1095 is scheduled to land on the SpaceX droneship “Just Read the Instructions” a little over eight minutes later. A successful landing would be the 449th booster landing to date and the 121st touchdown on this ship.
