Elon Musk’s SpaceX cancels Starlink launch attempt just 90 minutes before take-off
- Weather had forced SpaceX to delay a previous attempt on Wednesday
- The payload contained dozens of small satellites that will eventually make up a network of nearly 600
SpaceX was set to try to launch its next batch of Starlink satellites Saturday with a couple of Earth observation satellites along for the ride, but pulled the plug about 90 minutes before the planned lift-off.
“Standing down from today’s launch of the tenth Starlink mission to allow more time for checkouts; team is working to identify the next launch opportunity. Will announce a new target date once confirmed with the Range,” SpaceX said on its Twitter account.
The planned launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Centre’s Launch Pad 39-A was set for 10.54am.
Weather had forced SpaceX to delay a previous attempt on Wednesday, one that had already been pushed back several times since June.
The main payload of 57 small satellites remain the 10th mission in the company’s plan to place an array of thousands of internet-providing satellites into space, and would have been the third in just more than a month. This new batch would have brought the company close to 600 active satellites.
Also on board as part of the company’s new rideshare program are two satellites from Seattle-based company BlackSky Global. When deployed, they would have been the fifth and sixth satellites for the company as part of its global monitoring constellation. SpaceX has lined up more than 100 spacecraft from customers hitching rides on future launches.