NASA and SpaceX have decided to postpone the highly anticipated launch of the Psyche spacecraft due to adverse weather conditions. The launch, originally scheduled for Thursday morning, will now take place on Friday. This delay has allowed SpaceX to focus on a different mission, as they plan to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying Starlink internet satellites on the same day.
According to SpaceX officials, the Psyche spacecraft has priority over the Starlink mission. This means that the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink satellites will be launched after the Psyche spacecraft is sent into orbit. The launch window for Friday’s mission extends from 6:55 to 11:27 p.m. EDT.
The Falcon 9 rocket will follow a southeasterly trajectory and the first stage booster will aim for a successful landing on a drone ship. The Starlink mission will take off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 40. The payload for this mission is a batch of 22 Starlink internet-beaming satellites.
Meanwhile, the Psyche spacecraft is scheduled to launch on Thursday morning aboard a triple-core Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center. Once in space, the spacecraft will begin its ambitious mission of studying a metallic asteroid within the main asteroid belt. This study will last for an extraordinary 26 months after a rendezvous in July 2029.
It’s important to note that the SpaceX launch schedule is subject to change, especially when factors like weather conditions come into play. However, the delay has provided space enthusiasts with more time to subscribe to KP INSIDER, a news site dedicated to covering the space industry and launches in Florida. Subscriptions help support journalism that brings the latest news and insights from this exciting field.
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