(UPDATED: FH retry today, same time) Some folks requested to be reminded before the Arabsat-6A Falcon Heavy launch. We are still “go” for today’s window at 6:35 pm Eastern time. SpaceX has been very good about launching right at the beginning of the windows, so be there or be square!
Rather than making a new post, I will update this one with the results. Meanwhile, here’s some reading material containing video of the first launch (the infamous Red Tesla Mars launch).
Fingers crossed…
Eric Berger has a nice writeup in Ars Technica, emphasizing how Falcon Heavy has become a much more important launch vehicle than was expected:
But in the 14 months since the large rocket’s inaugural flight, Falcon Heavy has had a remarkable effect on the nation’s space policy. In three key areas—national defense, science, and human exploration—the Falcon Heavy rocket has to some extent changed the discussion. As it turns out, the demand was there for a low-cost, heavy-lift booster.
Live video coverage will be found here, or (eventually) at SpaceX’s site directly.
Update 4:30 PDT: Today’s launch attempt has been called off by SpaceX. Another launch opportunity for the Falcon Heavy is available tomorrow with a launch window opening at 6:35 p.m. EDT (2235 GMT).
Update 4:28 PDT: SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk says wind shear is very high over Cape Canaveral this evening. Unless upper level wind conditions improve soon, the Falcon Heavy launch will have to be postponed, he says.
Update 3:49 PDT: Live feed from YouTube:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqeoFbGVxCU&w=560&h=315]
Note: I’ve been trying a number of live feeds, and they all have problems. This seems to be the most stable. The SpaceX site will probably work if everybody else crashes and burns (bad choice of words?) so keep that in mind. A lot of people are trying to watch this. Since they are now targeting the end of the window, today’s launch might be scrubbed. Note that the SpaceX feed now says “Live in 4 hours” which is clearly wrong.
Update 12:31 PDT: SpaceX confirms change in launch time:
Falcon Heavy and Arabsat-6A are vertical on Launch Complex 39A. Currently targeting liftoff at 8:00 p.m. EDT; monitoring upper-level winds that could push us to the end of the window (8:32 p.m. EDT)
— SpaceX (@SpaceX)
Update 12:10pm PDT: According to KSC countdown clocks, launch is now scheduled for 8pm EDT. SpaceX hasn’t confirmed that yet, and their site is still showing the earlier launch time.
2 replies on “Last minute reminder”
The primary launch window opens at 6:35 p.m. EDT, or 22:35 UTC, and closes at 8:32 p.m. EDT, or 00:32 p.m. UTC on Thursday, April 11. A backup launch window opens on Thursday, April 11 at 6:35 p.m. EDT, or 22:35 UTC, and closes at 8:31 p.m. EDT, or 00:31 UTC on Friday, April 12. The satellite will be deployed approximately 34 minutes after liftoff.
Ah, I misread your post (which is copied from SpaceX press release). “Thursday” is at the UTC longitude only. This is the kind of thing that happens when we try to put all times in local as well as UTC. Apologies!