HAWTHORNE (CNS) - A SpaceX satellite launch from Cape Canaveral was scrubbed this morning because of a sensor reading, Hawthorne-based SpaceX announced.
“Standing down from today's Starlink mission due to an out of family ground system sensor reading,'' the company said in a statement without immediately going into details, but adding that it “will announce a new target launch date once confirmed on the Range."
SpaceX had planned to launch two rockets in as many days, beginning with an internet-satellite mission today from Florida's Cape Canaveral.
SpaceX made multiple attempts to launch the Starlink satellites into orbit in mid-September, but the missions were delayed due to bad weather on the East Coast generated by Hurricane Sally.
Today's mission, scheduled for launch at 6:17 a.m. California time, was to have been the 13th to carry Starlink satellites into orbit. Nearly 700 such satellites are already circling the planet, with initial plans calling for as many as 12,000, and the ultimate array topping 40,000.
The Starlink system is designed to provide low-cost internet access in traditionally underserved areas around the world. The service is already being tested by some SpaceX employees, with public beta testing anticipated to begin later this year.
After launch, SpaceX will attempt to again recover the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket by landing it on a drone ship named “Of Course I Still Love You'' floating in the Atlantic Ocean. The rocket being used for the satellite launch has flown two previous missions for SpaceX, including itshistoric launch earlier this year of two astronauts to the International Space Station.
On Friday, SpaceX planned to try again to launch a U.S. Space ForceGPS satellite into orbit. The launch of the GPS III Space Vehicle 04 was scheduled for 6:43 p.m. Friday, although it was not immediately clear how it might be affected by today's cancellation, if at all.
That launch was originally planned on Wednesday, but it was delayed due to a crunch of launches scheduled at Cape Canaveral. The mission had to be pushed back to make way for a United Launch Alliance mission carrying a satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.
If successful, Friday's U.S. Space Force launch will be the third National Security Space Launch by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX will also attempt to recover the first stage of the rocket being used in that mission, continuing the company's efforts to reuse rockets to slash costs of future missions.
The GPS satellite will be added to an array that already includes 31 satellites orbiting at a rough altitude of 12,550 miles above the Earth.
“Our GPS III team is excited to be here once again,'' Col. Edward Byrne, Medium Earth Orbit Space Systems Division chief, said in a statement. “Less than three months ago, we successfully launched GPS III SV03. Since then, the team has successfully delivered the satellite to its final orbit, performed on-orbit testing and delivered the satellite to operations, while executing a mature satellite production line. I can't be more proud of everyone involved in this mission.
“The launch of GPS III SV04 will continue to modernize our GPS constellation by increasing our capabilities with advanced features for both our civil and military users across the world,'' he said.
HAWTHORNE (CNS) - It could be a busy couple of days for Hawthorne-based SpaceX, which will look to launch two rockets in as many days, beginning with an internet-satellite mission today at Cape Canaveral.
SpaceX made multiple attempts to launch the Starlink satellites into orbit in mid-September, but the missions were delayed due to bad weather on the East Coast generated by Hurricane Sally.
The mission, scheduled for launch at 6:17 a.m. California time Thursday, will be the 13th to carry Starlink satellites into orbit. Nearly 700 such satellites are already circling the planet, with initial plans calling for as many as 12,000, and the ultimate array topping 40,000.
The Starlink system is designed to provide low-cost internet access in traditionally underserved areas around the world. The service is already being tested by some SpaceX employees, with public beta testing anticipated to begin later this year.
After launch, SpaceX will attempt to again recover the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket by landing it on a drone ship named “Of Course I Still Love You'' floating in the Atlantic Ocean. The rocket being used for the satellite launch has flown two previous missions for SpaceX, including its historic launch earlier this year of two astronauts to the International Space Station.
On Friday, SpaceX will try again to launch a U.S. Space Force GPS satellite into orbit. The launch of the GPS III Space Vehicle 04 is scheduled for 6:43 p.m. Friday.
That launch was originally planned on Wednesday, but it was delayed due to a crunch of launches scheduled at Cape Canaveral. The mission had to be pushed back to make way for a United Launch Alliance mission carrying a satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.
If successful, Friday's U.S. Space Force launch will be the third National Security Space Launch by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX will also attempt to recover the first stage of the rocket being used in that mission, continuing the company's efforts to reuse rockets to slash costs of future missions.
The GPS satellite will be added to an array that already includes 31 satellites orbiting at a rough altitude of 12,550 miles above the Earth.
“Our GPS III team is excited to be here once again,'' Col. Edward Byrne, Medium Earth Orbit Space Systems Division chief, said in a statement. “Less than three months ago, we successfully launched GPS III SV03. Since then, the team has successfully delivered the satellite to its final orbit, performed on-orbit testing and delivered the satellite to operations, while executing a mature satellite production line. I can't be more proud of everyone involved in this mission.
“The launch of GPS III SV04 will continue to modernize our GPS constellation by increasing our capabilities with advanced features for both our civil and military users across the world,'' he said.
Photo: Getty Images