ULA scrubs Atlas V launch for weather after SpaceX Falcon 9 launch just a day before

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Update: Liftoff of the ULA Atlas V launched Friday evening, July 1, at 7:15 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. 

Update: Liftoff of Falcon 9 at 5:04 p.m. ET, Wednesday! After liftoff and landing on a drone ship, the rocket's second stage successfully delivered the SES-22 satellite to orbit. Read our full post-launch story here.

SpaceX started the Fourth of July fireworks early this year, but ULA was unable to follow with a launch of its Atlas V on Thursday evening due to poor weather.

In the first of two rocket launches slated for this week, SpaceX successfully launched its  Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Wednesday.

The 27th SpaceX mission of the year — and fifth to be launched this month — sent a communications satellite to orbit for Luxembourg-based satellite operator, SES.

Watch: SpaceX launches SES-22 communications satellite from Florida

More SpaceX launches from Florida: SpaceX launches Egyptian satellite on first Florida mission of June

The on-time liftoff of the 230-foot tall rocket at 5:04 p.m. ET took place from Launch Complex 40. Next door at Launch complex 41 United Launch Alliance is set for a launch of its Atlas V rocket.

Wednesday's SpaceX flight was the second mission for the Falcon 9's first stage booster, which did a somersault and returned for a successful landing on the company's "A Shortfall of Gravitas" drone ship which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL Wednesday, June 29, 2022. The rocket is carrying a commercial communications satellite. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL Wednesday, June 29, 2022. The rocket is carrying a commercial communications satellite. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

The drone ship will bring the booster back to Port Canaveral in a few days. SpaceX will presumably refurbish it and reuse it for a future mission.

The payload customer of Wednesday's mission, SES, was the first commercial company to fly on a re-used booster with SpaceX in March 2017.

SpaceX webhost, Jessie Anderson, stated Wednesday that since 2017 the company had accomplished 102 re-flights of Falcon 9 boosters, with the SES-22 mission now marking the 103rd.

If SpaceX keeps it up, the company is on pace to crush its previous cadence of 31 Falcon 9's launched in 2021.

SpaceX launch at 5:04 p.m. ET Wednesday, June 29, of a Falcon 9 rocket and communications satellite from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
SpaceX launch at 5:04 p.m. ET Wednesday, June 29, of a Falcon 9 rocket and communications satellite from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

If the weather cooperates, ULA could launch the Atlas V from Launch Complex 41 on Friday marking the second mission to launch from Florida's Space Coast this week.

In the nose cone of the ULA Atlas V rocket is the Wide Field of View (WFOV) Testbed missile early warning satellite for the U.S. Space Force and the USSF-12 Ring spacecraft for the Department of Defense.

The USSF-12 mission will send the Atlas V rocket on an eastern trajectory. The rocket is outfitted with four solid rocket boosters which should create a great sight for all spectators along the Space Coast, barring any clouds. The two-hour launch window opens at 6 p.m. ET.

Weather is predicted to be about 60% "GO" for a Friday evening launch.

For the latest, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.

Launch Friday, July 1: ULA USSF-12

  • Rocket: ULA Atlas V 541 (four solid rocket boosters)

  • Mission: USSF-12 national security mission for the U.S. Space Force

  • Launch Time: Between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET

  • Location: Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

  • Trajectory: East

  • Weather: 60% "go"

Visit floridatoday.com/space at 5 p.m. ET Friday, July 1, for real-time updates and live video.

Jamie Groh is a space reporter for Florida Today. You can contact her at JGroh@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AlteredJamie.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launches Falcon 9 at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Base