Photo: Charles Boyer for Talk of Titusville
SpaceX halted the countdown of its planned Falcon Heavy Launch this evening after encountering what the company labeled a “ground side issue.” The next launch attempt will occur no earlier than Dec. 12, 2023 from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center at 8:14 PM Eastern Standard Time.
The payload for the launch, the United States Space Force / Boeing X-37B, remains healthy and ready for flight.
Shortly after the Falcon Heavy launch was scrubbed, SpaceX also announced a delay in the second half of tonight’s planned doubleheader: the company had planned to launch another group of Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from their other launch pad on the Space Coast, SLC-40 shortly after 11pm.
Weather may become a concern Tuesday night should SpaceX make another launch attempt. According to the latest forecast by the 45th Weather Squadron, there is a 40% chance of unacceptable launch weather due to Liftoff Winds and the Thick Cloud Layers rules.
Substantial crowds had gathered along Washington Avenue and on the Max Brewer Bridge to view the launch, and in the words of one unnamed spectator, the crowd was somewhat disappointed, but understanding. “Most of us will be able to come back tomorrow night, or the night after that. The important thing is that the launch is successful.”