Updates: Watch SpaceX launch a Falcon 9 rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral in Florida

Jamie Groh, Florida Today
·2 min read
12

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

---

Update: Liftoff of Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral at 10:09 p.m. EDT! The rocket successfully took more Starlink internet satellites to orbit. The Falcon 9 first stage landed on a drone ship landing in the Atlantic Ocean. Read our full post-launch story here.

Follow live as SpaceX targets 10:09 p.m. EDT Sunday, Sept. 4, for the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Tonight's rideshare mission features 51 Starlink satellites and an orbital transfer vehicle for customer Spaceflight Inc. Spaceflight's orbital transfer vehicle, Sherpa-LTC, will serve as a third stage vehicle and deliver an undisclosed customer payload to a further orbit before deployment.

Tonight's Falcon 9 flight marks the 59th for the internet constellation and Florida's 38th launch of the year. After liftoff, the Falcon 9 first stage will target a landing on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Spaceflight's Sherpa-LTC will deploy first from the Falcon 9's second stage around 49 minutes after liftoff followed by the stack of 51 Starlink satellites which will separate about 23 minutes later.

If a backup launch opportunity is needed, SpaceX can try again on Monday, Sept. 5, at 9:39 p.m. ET.

Updates from the real-time event below:

First payload deployed successfully

11:09 p.m. EDT: SpaceX confirms a good deployment of the Spaceflight Inc. Sherpa-LTC orbital transfer vehicle.

The Falcon 9 has landed

10:18 p.m. EDT: The first stage of the Falcon 9 has landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The first payload deployment will occur about 49 minutes after liftoff with Starlink deployment about 23 minutes after that.

Liftoff!

10:09 p.m. EDT: SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 Starlink rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Everything proceeding normally

10:05 p.m. EDT: SpaceX is continuing to countdown to an on-time liftoff at 10:09 p.m. ET.

SpaceX is "go" for fueling

9:31 p.m. EDT: The SpaceX Launch Director has given the command to begin fueling the Falcon 9 ahead of a 10:09 p.m. EDT liftoff attempt.

All looks good for on-time launch attempt

9:15 p.m. EDT: SpaceX stated that the Falcon 9 rocket and the weather are looking good for an on-time launch attempt tonight from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX Counting down to 10:09 p.m. ET liftoff

8:45 p.m. EDT: The weather looks favorable for an on-time liftoff this evening. Forecasters with the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predict an 80% chance of "go" conditions for this evening's attempt. Only some spotty cumulus clouds are cited as a concern.

For the latest, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launch: Falcon 9 Starlink Sunday launch live updates