SpaceX delays launch attempt, but still targeting tonight

SpaceX continues its record pace for 2022 with what would be its 35th launch of the year aiming to send up another 52 Starlink satellites atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center tonight.

Liftoff from KSC’s Launch Complex 39-A is has been delayed, now targeting 10:14 p.m. because of upper-level winds. A backup opportunity opens at 6:36 p.m. Wednesday.

The Space Launch Delta 45 weather squadron predicts a 70% chance for good conditions citing the possibility of anvil clouds moving into the area along with potential violation of its cumulous cloud rule. Conditions improve to 90% favorable in the event of a 24-hour delay.

The first-stage booster on this mission is making its third flight, and will attempt to land again on the company’s droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Elon Musk company surpassed its then-record 31 launches set in 2021 back on July 22 and is on pace to average more than one launch a week by the end of 2022. So far this year, SpaceX has had 11 launches from KSC including two human spaceflights of its Crew Dragon — the all-civilian Axiom 1 mission and the Crew-4 rotational mission for NASA to the International Space Station. Crew-5 is slated from KSC no earlier than Sept. 29.

The majority of the remaining KSC flights have been for the Starlink internet constellation, as have been most of the 16 launches from neighboring Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. SpaceX has also had seven launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, most of them for Starlink.

The company has already sent up 19 Starlink launches this year and 54 overall since the first operational deployment in 2019, with nearly 3,000 satellites sent to orbit, according to statistics tracked by astronomer Jonathan McDowell.

The 570-pound satellites orbit at around 341 miles altitude. SpaceX has approval for 4,408 operational satellites, but is seeking Federal Communications Commission approval to increase its presence to about 30,000 with future launches on board its in-the-works Starship rocket.

The service is part of the company’s revenue-generating plan to support Elon Musk’s long-term goal of sending humans to and establishing a colony on Mars.

Since 2008, SpaceX has had 172 successful launches and managed the recovery of 134 of its boosters among both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.

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