SpaceX targets Wednesday Starlink launch; Polaris Dawn launch target moves to Friday

As SpaceX targets Wednesday afternoon for its next Starlink launch from the Space Coast, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows the next Polaris Dawn liftoff try will occur Friday — the same day Boeing's malfunctioning Starliner is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station for return to Earth.

First up, Wednesday's Starlink 8-11 mission has been pushed back to a 12:07 p.m. EDT target liftoff time. Only one backup opportunity remains available if needed, at 12:59 p.m., SpaceX reported.

Then Friday, an FAA launch window for Polaris Dawn opens at 3:33 a.m. and extends through 7:38 a.m. The four Polaris Dawn crew members remain in quarantine at NASA's Kennedy Space Center awaiting liftoff on their ambitious five-day orbital mission. This privately funded mission with an all-civilian crew will launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from KSC pad 39A — with plans to embark on the world's first commercial spacewalk outside their SpaceX Dragon capsule.

Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule from Florida

Later Friday, about 6:04 p.m., Starliner will autonomously undock from the ISS — with no humans aboard — with plans to reenter Earth's atmosphere and land about 12:03 a.m. Saturday at White Sands Space Harbor in the New Mexican desert.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who launched aboard Starliner on June 5, will now remain on the orbiting outpost until February. They'll return to Earth with two of the Crew-9 astronauts aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

No sonic booms on Wednesday Starlink launch

Back to Wednesday's Starlink mission: As during recent liftoffs, the Falcon 9 rocket will fly along a northeasterly trajectory and deploy a payload of 21 internet-beaming satellites into low-Earth orbit.

No Central Florida sonic booms are expected. Rather, the 230-foot-tall rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship out at sea a bit more than eight minutes after liftoff.

The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron forecast a 70% chance of favorable weather, with cumulus clouds and anvil clouds posing the primary threats.

Polaris Dawn commander: 'Big launch day is getting closer'

A helium leak at the launch pad scrubbed the initial Polaris Dawn launch try on Aug. 27. Unfavorable Dragon splashdown weather forecasts have sidelined the mission since, as did a brief FAA investigation into the Aug. 28 fiery Falcon 9 booster mishap aboard a drone ship.

"Staying busy in quarantine with some formation flying, timeline review, staying fit and focused on the mission ahead. Grateful for the amazing team and this incredible opportunity. Big launch day is getting closer," mission commander Jared Isaacman said in a Sunday tweet featuring photos of the crew flying with the Polaris Ghost Squadron.

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

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX targets Starlink launch Wednesday, Polaris Dawn launch Friday