Follow live coverage as SpaceX targets 11:04 p.m. EDT Wednesday, July 26, for the launch of a three-core Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Teams have a 99-minute window to launch the 230-foot rocket from pad 39A, which extends until 12:43 a.m. EDT Thursday, July 27. Weather conditions ahead of liftoff were last calculated by the Space Force at 85% “go.”
The rocket’s twin side boosters will target near-simultaneous landings at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zones 1 and 2. To deliver the JUPITER 3 communications satellite to geostationary orbit for Hughes Network Systems, extra performance will be required of the center core. It will be expended over the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX will not attempt to recover it.
For the latest, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Follow live updates below (manual refresh required):
Sonic boom reminder:
10:25 p.m. EDT: With fueling of the triple Falcon booster now underway, a reminder that about eight minutes after liftoff the Falcon Heavy’s dual side boosters will attempt near-simultaneous touchdowns at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zones 1 & 2. Spectators and Space Coast residents should expect largely harmless – but oftentimes startling – low-frequency sonic booms to be generated on the way down.
SpaceX reports no issues with the rocket or the weather so far in the countdown and continues to work toward liftoff at 11:04 p.m. EDT.
— Jamie Groh
SpaceX “go” to begin fueling:
10:10 p.m. EDT: SpaceX confirms fueling of the three-core Falcon Heavy rocket at Kennedy Space Center will begin shortly. Teams are still targeting liftoff at 11:04 p.m. EDT.
— Jamie Groh
Welcome to live coverage:
9:00 p.m. EDT: Good evening! SpaceX teams at Kennedy Space Center are counting down to the liftoff of a triple-core Falcon Heavy rocket powered by 27 Merlin main engines. Liftoff from pad 39A is targeted for 11:04 p.m. EDT, but teams have an available window of 99 minutes tonight if needed.
Because the rocket is essentially three Falcon 9 boosters strapped together, the fueling process will need to begin a bit sooner than that of a single Falcon 9 rocket. If all goes to plan, tonight’s mission will loft the largest communications satellite ever built by Maxar Technologies, Jupiter 3, for Hughes Network Systems and parent company EchoStar. SpaceX last reported weather conditions as 85% “go” for the eastward-bound trajectory over the Atlantic Ocean.
Stay tuned for more frequent live updates as we proceed through the countdown and get closer to the start of fueling. Here are the milestones to look out for during the pre-launch timeline:
T-minus:
- 00:53:00 minutes SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
- 00:50:00 minutes 1st stage RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
- 00:45:00 minutes 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
- 00:35:00 minutes 2nd stage RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
- 00:18:30 minutes 2nd stage LOX loading begins
- 00:07:00 minutes Falcon Heavy begins engine chill
- 00:00:59 seconds Flight computer commanded to begin final pre-launch checks
- 00:00:45 seconds SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
- 00:00:20 seconds Propellant tanks pressurize for flight
- 00:00:06 seconds Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
- 00:00:00 Falcon Heavy liftoff
— Jamie Groh
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