SpaceX launch recap: Booster tips over amid flames on drone ship after early Wednesday liftoff

Launch recap: Scroll down to review live updates from the Wednesday, Aug. 28, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on the Starlink 8-6 mission — where a first-stage booster tipped over atop a drone ship.

Surprise! SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket early Wednesday morning from the Space Coast — but it won't be the Polaris Dawn mission.

Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY Space Team live coverage of the SpaceX Starlink 8-6 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

In a tweet barely four hours before the original liftoff target, SpaceX announced the mission was a "go." After a delay, the rocket will now launch 21 broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit at 3:48 a.m. EDT Wednesday from Launch Complex 40.

No Central Florida sonic booms are expected during this mission. After soaring skyward along a northeasterly trajectory, the rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship out at sea nearly 8? minutes after liftoff.

SpaceX had initially planned to launch the four Polaris Dawn crew members aboard a Falcon 9 at 3:38 a.m. Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. But instead, crews called off launch attempts Wednesday and Thursday, citing poor weather forecasted in the Dragon capsule's splashdown area off the Florida coastline.

Countdown Timer

Confirmed: Booster tipped over atop drone ship

Update 4:08 a.m.: In a tweet, SpaceX officials confirmed that the booster did tip over.

"After a successful ascent, Falcon 9's first stage booster tipped over following touchdown on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship. Teams are assessing the booster's flight data and status. This was the booster's 23rd launch," the tweet said.

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster appears to tip over

Update 3:58 a.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster appeared to tumble over amid heavy flames on its 23rd mission after settling down aboard SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, the SpaceX webcast briefly showed.

The webcast video cut away from the drone ship soon afterward.

Liftoff!

Update 3:48 a.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 carrying 21 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX launch webcast begins

Update 3:43 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 Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX launch weather still clear at Cape Canaveral

Update 3:35 a.m.: Fewer than 15 minutes before liftoff, no significant cloud cover is visible above Cape Canaveral in this National Weather radar loop from the Melbourne Orlando International Airport station.

SpaceX booster to land on drone ship

Update 3:25 a.m.: This mission marks the 23rd flight for this battle-tested Falcon 9 first-stage booster, SpaceX reported.

The booster previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8 and 15 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, 22 seconds after liftoff.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling underway

Update 3:14 a.m.: SpaceX just announced Falcon 9 fueling procedures are underway at Launch Complex 40, and "range and weather are currently go."

That means tonight’s Starlink countdown is now locked in to lift off at 3:48 a.m. without any delays, or else the launch must be postponed.

SpaceX launch countdown timeline

Update 3 a.m.: Here's 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.

Launch weather looks clear over Cape Canaveral

Update 2:49 a.m.: This radar loop from the National Weather Service station at Melbourne Orlando International Airport shows scattered storms offshore, but no significant cloud cover over Cape Canaveral.

Starlink mission features 13 direct-to-cell satellites

Update 2:28 a.m.: The rocket will lift 21 Starlink satellites — including 13 with direct-to-cell communications capabilities — into low-Earth orbit.

"The @Starlink Direct to Cell constellation grows again! As the service continues to improve, we're accelerating towards offering commercial service to US customers with @TMobile this fall!" Sara Spangelo, SpaceX senior director of satellite engineering, said in a tweet highlighting the Aug. 10 Starlink 8-3 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Space Force: 85% odds of 'go for launch' weather

Update 2:05 a.m.: The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predicted an 85% chance of favorable weather for this night-owl mission. Primary threat: cumulus clouds just offshore.

"The western Atlantic ridge axis remains positioned north of the area extending into the southeast US. This synoptic pattern will yield a deep layer of weak onshore easterly winds throughout the column, which will aid in pushing late afternoon seabreeze activity well west of the spaceport," the squadron's forecast said.

"Additionally, while this pattern typically would garner nocturnal coastal showers moving onshore overnight and into the early morning, the relatively drier and more stable airmass in place will aid in inhibiting any significant development," the forecast said.

SpaceX pushes back launch to 3:38 a.m.

Update 1:48 a.m.: SpaceX has moved the launch target back nearly one hour, to 3:38 a.m.

Another backup opportunity is available at 4:48 a.m., if needed.

SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard

Update 1:32 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.

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: SpaceX launch recap: Falcon 9 booster tips over on drone ship Wednesday