Scrub! SpaceX launch halts 46 seconds before liftoff Sunday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center

Launch recap: Scroll down to review live updates from the Sunday, Aug. 11, scrubbed launch attempt of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on the Starlink 10-7 mission. SpaceX will try the launch again at 6:37 a.m. Monday.

Original story: It's another weekend launch day — with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket scheduled to lift off for the second straight morning from Florida's Space Coast.

Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY Space Team live coverage of today's SpaceX Starlink 10-7 mission. SpaceX is now targeting 10:59 a.m. EDT — more than four hours later than initially scheduled — to launch the Falcon 9 and its payload of 23 Starlink satellites from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

No Central Florida sonic booms are expected. After soaring skyward along a northeasterly trajectory, the rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship out at sea just more than eight minutes after liftoff.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket remains on pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center after the countdown clock stopped Sunday morning.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket remains on pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center after the countdown clock stopped Sunday morning.

Countdown Timer

SpaceX to try to launch Monday morning

Update 11:21 a.m.: In a tweet, SpaceX officials said they will reset for a Monday morning launch attempt. No target time has been announced, but the company's multi-hour launch window will open at 6:37 a.m.

"Today's Falcon 9 launch of @Starlink was paused at T-46 seconds. Vehicle and payload are in good health and teams are resetting for a launch attempt on Monday, August 12," the tweet said.

SpaceX countdown halts at 46 seconds

Update 11:08 a.m.: Here's what we know: The SpaceX launch countdown stopped at the 46-second mark.

During SpaceX's launch webcast, an official said, "launch abort is running," after the clock stopped.

The webcast ended shortly afterward.

Scrub!

Update 10:59 a.m.: SpaceX has halted the countdown of this morning's launch of a Falcon 9 rocket.

No official explanation has been publicly released.

SpaceX launch webcast begins

Update 10:54 a.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, right below the countdown clock.

Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from KSC.

Launch to create SpaceX weekend doubleheader

Update 10:49 a.m.: The upcoming launch will make for a SpaceX Falcon 9 weekend doubleheader from Cape Canaveral.

Saturday morning, a Falcon 9 lifted off at 8:50 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on the Starlink 8-3 mission. The first stage landed on the SpaceX drone ship Just Read the Instructions offshore in the Atlantic Ocean.

Spectators shoot photos and video of SpaceX's Saturday Falcon 9 rocket launch.
Spectators shoot photos and video of SpaceX's Saturday Falcon 9 rocket launch.

SpaceX Falcon 9 launch in 15 minutes

Update 10:44 a.m.: Fifteen minutes before SpaceX's Falcon 9 liftoff attempt, the countdown appears to be proceeding as planned. Rocket fueling remains well underway at KSC.

Following is a list of key remaining countdown milestones. T-minus:

  • 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.

  • 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.

  • 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go for launch.”

  • 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.

  • 0 seconds: Falcon 9 liftoff.

SpaceX booster to land on drone ship

Update 10:35 a.m.: This morning's mission marks the Falcon 9 first-stage booster’s 17th flight, SpaceX reported.

The booster previously launched SES-22, ispace's HAKUTO-R MISSION 1, Amazonas-6, CRS-27, Bandwagon-1 and 11 Starlink missions.

Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land on the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 12 seconds after liftoff.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 first-stage booster approaches Port Canaveral just after sunrise in August 2021 atop the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 first-stage booster approaches Port Canaveral just after sunrise in August 2021 atop the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling about to start

Update 10:25 a.m.: SpaceX just announced Falcon 9 fueling procedures are finally about to begin at pad 39A, and "weather is looking good."

That means tonight’s Starlink countdown will be locked in to lift off at 10:59 a.m. without any delays, or else the launch must be postponed to Monday morning at the earliest.

SpaceX pushes back launch to 10:59 a.m.

Update 10:16 a.m.: SpaceX just announced today's launch target is now 10:59 a.m. — the very end of the window.

If any more delays arise, SpaceX's next opportunities start at 6:37 a.m. Monday.

SpaceX launch countdown timeline

Update 10 a.m.: Following is a rundown of SpaceX’s behind-the-scenes countdown timeline. T-minus:

  • 38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load.

  • 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

  • 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

  • 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.

  • 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.

  • 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.

  • 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.

  • 0 seconds: Liftoff.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off Saturday morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 21 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off Saturday morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 21 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.

SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard

Update 9:45 a.m.: The Brevard County Emergency Management launch operations support team is on the job ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.

Space Force: 90% odds of favorable weather

Update 9:29 a.m.: Today's Falcon 9 launch attempt should see 90% odds of "go for launch" weather, per the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron.

The squadron forecasts identical 90% odds during the mission's Monday morning backup window.

"The Atlantic subtropical ridge axis, currently located over the Florida Keys, will be moving slowly northward over the next several days. This pattern brings seasonal afternoon thunderstorm activity, and conditions should be favorable for either window," the squadron's forecast said.

"The primary concern each morning will be for a Cumulus Cloud Rule violation, particularly near the end of the window, as the sea breeze starts to form and move inland across the Cape," the forecast said.

SpaceX launch delayed more than three hours

Update 9:14 a.m.: This morning's liftoff was originally 7:21 a.m., which SpaceX crews later incrementally adjusted to 7:23 a.m.

But delays arose. SpaceX pushed back the launch time to 9:41 a.m. — then postponed liftoff again to 10:49 a.m. SpaceX has not publicly released details on these delays.

For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Scrub! SpaceX launch halts 46 seconds before liftoff Sunday from Cape