SpaceX is set to launch the NROL-108 payload into space on the morning of Thursday, December 17, via its Falcon 9 booster.
“Targeting Thursday, December 17 for Falcon 9 launch of NROL-108 for @NatReconOfc. The three-hour launch window opens at 9:00 a.m. EST, and weather is 70% favorable,” said SpaceX on the eve of the launch. This will be a spy satellite for the U.S. government.
The launch will take place at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40, also known as SLC-40. Tomorrow’s Falcon 9 landing will take place at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1), a mere 9 miles from the launch site, allowing for fans to see the landing in person, instead of a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, where footage usually cuts out at the end.
A sonic boom is usually part of the landing so Florida residents will have to brace for the morning wake up call (for those boomers sleeping in past 9am).
You can watch the live video of the launch below, with the launch window set to start at 6am PT/9am ET; those on the west coast will have to be up early to watch it live:
Update: the launch was scrubbed before lift off. “Falcon 9 auto-abort called at T-1:53 due to a second stage sensor reading. Today’s launch window closes at 12:00 p.m. EST,” said SpaceX.
According to Elon Musk, he says “Pressure is slightly high in upper stage liquid oxygen tank. Review underway.”
Falcon 9 auto-abort called at T-1:53 due to a second stage sensor reading. Today’s launch window closes at 12:00 p.m. EST.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 17, 2020
Pressure is slightly high in upper stage liquid oxygen tank. Review underway.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 17, 2020
Update: SpaceX says it has cancelled today’s launch and will try again on Friday morning, saying “Standing down from today’s launch attempt of NROL-108 to take a closer look at the data; Falcon 9 and NROL-108 remain healthy. Teams are working toward a backup launch opportunity of tomorrow with a three-hour window opening at 9:00 a.m. EST”.
Standing down from today’s launch attempt of NROL-108 to take a closer look at the data; Falcon 9 and NROL-108 remain healthy. Teams are working toward a backup launch opportunity of tomorrow with a three-hour window opening at 9:00 a.m. EST
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 17, 2020
