Updates: SpaceX SES O3b mPOWER mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida
Watch Falcon 9 launch the @SES_Satellites O3b mPOWER mission to orbit https://t.co/SmXCz0Ly23
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 12, 2023
Updates: Following is live coverage of Sunday's 4:08 p.m. EST liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the SES O3b mPOWER 5 and 6 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live coverage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch this afternoon from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX is targeting an 89-minute window from 4:08 to 5:37 p.m. EST to launch a rocket carrying a pair of communications satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The Falcon 9 is flying under contract with SES, a Luxembourg-based company that will place two more of its Boeing-built O3b mPOWER satellites into medium-Earth orbit.
After soaring skyward from Launch Complex 40, the Falcon 9's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a drone ship out at sea 8 minutes, 43 seconds after liftoff. No local sonic booms are expected during today's mission.
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Update 4:16 p.m. EST: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean, wrapping up its ninth flight.
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship pic.twitter.com/KFOZ8ka6uc
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 12, 2023
Liftoff!
Update 4:08 p.m. EST: SpaceX has launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a pair of SES O3b mPOWER satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Next, the first-stage booster should land on a SpaceX drone ship out on the Atlantic Ocean.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/7xuJd88TOZ
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 12, 2023
SpaceX live launch webcast underway
Update 4:02 p.m. EST: SpaceX's live launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted at the top of this page.
Liftoff is scheduled in six minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling underway
Update 3:59 p.m. EST: Nine minutes before today's 4:08 p.m. launch window opens, visual cues indicate Falcon 9 fueling procedures are well underway.
That means today's SES O3b mPOWER mission is now committed to lift off today, or else the launch must be postponed.
SpaceX booster to land on drone ship
Update 3:47 p.m. EST: Tonight's mission marks the ninth flight for this Falcon 9 first-stage booster, SpaceX reports.
Following stage separation, the booster is slated to land on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 43 seconds after liftoff.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch countdown
Update 3:22 p.m. EST: Following is a list of key milestones in the upcoming Falcon 9 countdown timeline:
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: Falcon 9 liftoff.
SpaceX launch weather: overcast skies
Update: 3:11 p.m. EST: Skies above Cape Canaveral Space Force Station are overcast with a temperature of 76 and north wind of 13 mph, the National Weather Service reports.
The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron previously forecasted a 70% chance of "go" weather for today's launch.
11/12/2023 3:08 PM | We have activated our launch operations support team in preparation for the SpaceX Falcon9 launch. Window: 4:08 - 5:37 PM pic.twitter.com/hA4kFafhPG
— Brevard EOC (@BrevardEOC) November 12, 2023
SpaceX to launch SES satellites
Update 2:55 p.m. EST: This morning, SES tweeted a quartet of photos featuring its third pair of O3b mPOWER satellites, which will head into orbit atop the Falcon 9 rocket.
These will mark satellites No. 5 and 6 in the company's planned series of 13 in orbit.
Take a #BTS peek at the preparations as we’re getting ready to launch our third pair of #O3bmPOWER satellites! 🚀🛰️🛰️ @spacex livestream details below 👇 #ShareAnywhere @BoeingSpace
🗓️ Sunday, 12 November
🕟 4:08pm EST | 10:08pm CET
▶️ https://t.co/KwAB6QLWok pic.twitter.com/PQX8ymtfvk— SES (@SES_Satellites) November 12, 2023
For the latest schedule updates at the Cape, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
🚨LAUNCH ALERT🚨
🚀A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 2nd pair of O3b mPOWER satellites.
⏰Sunday, November 12. The 89-minute launch window opens at 4:08pm.
👀Launch viewing from Banana Creek is available.
🎟Explore More: https://t.co/aK4aD1USs4 pic.twitter.com/XAOJKOZ8B6— Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (@ExploreSpaceKSC) November 10, 2023
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Updates: SpaceX SES O3b mPOWER mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida