SpaceX F9 - Starlink 12 - LC-39A

[Grendal]

Launch Date: October 6
Launch Window: 7:29 am EDT (4:29am PDT, 11:29 UTC)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS - OCISLY
Booster: B1058.3
Fairings: Reused.2 - first time fairings reused for a second time
Mass: 60 satellites at 260 kg each - 15,600 kg (34,500 lbs)
Orbit: LEO

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 13th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 12.

 

[Grendal]

Date, time, and booster updated.

 

[Grendal]

60% go for weather on tomorrows launch. The next day, if delayed, is 40%.

 

[Grendal]

Webcast:

 

[Grendal]

 

[Cosmacelf]

Looks like this has just been postponed until tomorrow, the 18th.

 

[Grendal]

Looks like this has just been postponed until tomorrow, the 18th.

Yes. Weather is worse for tomorrow.

Standing down from today's Starlink launch due to recovery issue; vehicle and payload remain healthy. Next launch opportunity is tomorrow, September 18 at 1:57 p.m. EDT, but we are keeping an eye on weather.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1...qSW-wdAeltPdYJ3sZPgH4iwHZvYrcNZjwLj2xmojWCEak

 

[Grendal]

Standing down for very bad weather. Big ? on when for now.

SpaceX twitter:
Standing down from tomorrow’s launch of Starlink due to severe weather in the recovery area, which is likely to persist for a couple days. Will announce a new target launch date once confirmed

 

[Grendal]

First post updated

 

[Grendal]

24 hour delay:

 

[Grendal]

Webcast:

 

[Grendal]

Tim Dodd's Webcast for the launch:

 

[Grendal]

Scrub due to weather. No backup date just yet.

 

[ecarfan]

I find it odd that with the weather “no go” they would run the countdown down to T-00:35 before scrubbing. And why can’t rockets fly through clouds? I heard nothing about high altitude winds.

 

[Grendal]

I find it odd that with the weather “no go” they would run the countdown down to T-00:35 before scrubbing. And why can’t rockets fly through clouds? I heard nothing about high altitude winds.

Here's an article on weather at the Cape:
No scrubs: Here’s what it takes to forecast Space Coast launch, landing weather

and an article from KSP:
Why Do Rockets Scrub? | Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

 

[bxr140]

I find it odd that with the weather “no go” they would run the countdown down to T-00:35 before scrubbing. And why can’t rockets fly through clouds? I heard nothing about high altitude winds.

I wasn’t watching, but there could have been electrical potential in the clouds?

 

[Snerruc]

Perhaps the weather is at the landing site.

 

[HVM]

https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/649911main_051612_falcon9_weather_criteria.pdf

Have you heard such thing as "Internet" it's global network of connected computers. One of them is NASA's public PDF server.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/649911main_051612_falcon9_weather_criteria.pdf

Have you heard such thing as "Internet" it's global network of connected computers. One of them is NASA's public PDF server.

The question was about the why, rather than the what.

 

[ecarfan]

https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/649911main_051612_falcon9_weather_criteria.pdf

Have you heard such thing as "Internet" it's global network of connected computers. One of them is NASA's public PDF server.

Thanks for the link. I am familiar with the inkerneck: as I understand it, it is a “network of tubes”. But that’s off topic for this thread.

What I heard during the webcast were references to a “cloud layer” but nothing about thunderstorms, lightning, wind shear, or high winds. So in regards to this particular scrub, perhaps the relevant part of that document is this:

——————————————
Do not launch through a cloud layer greater than 4,500 feet thick that extends into freezing temperatures, unless other specific criteria can be met.
Do not launch within 10 nautical miles of cumulus clouds with tops that extend into freezing temperatures, unless specific height- associated distance criteria can be met.
——————————————-
.
This page says freezing temperatures can “jam instruments”. What instruments Would be effected?
KT Explains: How and why the earth's weather can affect rocket launches to outer space