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    • Scrub! SpaceX stops Falcon 9 launch countdown, citing helium issue
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    Scrub! SpaceX stops Falcon 9 launch countdown, citing helium issue

    Kathleen William Posted on

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    Scrub summary: Scroll down to watch live updates from Sunday, November 3, from the launch attempt of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral as part of the Starlink 6-77 mission.

    Original story: Today marks the first mission of a SpaceX-NASA dual launch from Sunday to Monday, with two Falcon 9 rockets scheduled to lift off within about 24 hours.

    Welcome to the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team's live coverage of the SpaceX Starlink 6-77 mission this afternoon from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

    SpaceX plans to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at 4:57 p.m. EST. The Falcon 9 will host a group of 23 internet satellites.

    No sonic booms expected in Central Florida. After rocketing into the sky on a southeasterly trajectory, the rocket is expected to land at sea aboard a SpaceX drone ship about eight minutes after launch.

    Monday evening, SpaceX and NASA will launch a Dragon capsule on a resupply mission to the International Space Station from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 9:29 p.m. These missions will be the Space Coast's record-breaking 75th and 76th orbital rocket launches in a single calendar year.

    Rocket photography: FLORIDA TODAY's 2025 space launch calendar is here

    Update 5:34 p.m.: The NASA-SpaceX CRS-31 launch is scheduled for Monday at 9:29 p.m. and has priority on the Eastern Range calendar.

    During a media conference last month, Tim Dunn, launch director of NASA's Launch Services Program, said that NASA has traditionally asked SpaceX to delay its Starlink launches to create a “kickback” period before the LSP missions Staff can check previous start dates. This allows them to detect potential flight anomalies.

    SpaceX has not yet announced a new launch time and date for Starlink 6-77, early following today's announcement.

    Update 5:09 p.m.: This afternoon, SpaceX officials announced that the replacement launch of Starlink 6-77 is scheduled for Monday at 4:31 p.m.

    If that window holds, the Falcon 9 would lift off from Pad 39A at the adjacent Kennedy Space Center at 9:29 p.m., five hours before the launch of the SpaceX-NASA CRS-31 resupply mission to the International Space Station.

    “I'm holding back from starting today. Vehicle and payload are fine,” SpaceX officials said in a post-scrub tweet at 5:04 p.m.

    Update 5:03 p.m.: During SpaceX's short launch webcast, a countdown hold was announced, with the clock stopping at 2 minutes and 36 seconds before launch.

    “Hold, hold, hold. Step back for helium stage one,” said a launch manager.

    Update 4:56 p.m.: SpaceX has canceled the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

    No official statement was released.

    Update 4:52 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast, hosted on X (formerly Twitter), is now posted above, just below the countdown clock.

    The launch is scheduled in five minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

    Update 4:42 p.m.: This afternoon's mission marks the third flight of the Falcon 9 first stage, SpaceX reported.

    This young carrier in the SpaceX fleet has already launched Crew-9 and a Starlink mission.

    After stage separation, crews expect the launch vehicle to land on the SpaceX Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes and 11 seconds after liftoff.

    Update 4:32 p.m.: Here's a behind-the-scenes look at SpaceX's upcoming countdown timeline. T-minus:

    • 16 minutes: Loading with liquid oxygen of the second stage begins.
    • 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine cooling before launch.
    • 1 minute: The command flight computer begins the final checks before takeoff. Pressurization of the fuel tank to flight pressure begins.
    • 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director confirms launch is possible.
    • 3 seconds: The engine control commands the start of the engine ignition sequence.
    • 0 seconds: Lift up.

    Update 4:21 p.m.: SpaceX just announced that Falcon 9 refueling will begin soon at Launch Complex 40 – and “the weather is looking good.”

    This means that today's countdown of the Starlink mission is set to launch at 4:57 p.m. without delay, otherwise the launch will have to be postponed.

    Update 4:12 p.m.: The National Weather Service reported cloudy skies, an east wind of 10 mph and a temperature of 80 degrees at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 3:55 p.m

    North in New Smyrna Beach, where launch spectators gather near the shore, meteorologists reported partly cloudy skies and temperatures of 81 degrees at the municipal airport as of 2:47 p.m.

    Update 4 p.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch support team ahead of SpaceX's upcoming Falcon 9 launch.

    Update 3:45 p.m.: The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron is forecasting a 90 percent chance of favorable weather for today's launch, citing a high-pressure system over southeastern states.

    “Onshore currents will be windy through Sunday, but should remain below launch restrictions for the launch window… some isolated, low-level showers will continue into Sunday,” the squadron's forecast said.

    Main meteorological concerns: lift-off winds and cumulus clouds. The squadron also warned of a moderate risk of inclement weather for booster recovery in the Atlantic.

    Update 3:30 p.m.: The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will remain open until 5:30 p.m., allowing visitors to view the upcoming launch from the tourist attraction's Atlantis North Lawn, approximately 6.7 miles from the launch site.

    For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.

    Rick Neale is a space reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

    Space is important to us, which is why we work to bring you the best coverage of the industry and launches in Florida. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

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    Kathleen William
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