SpaceX Targets Thursday Night Falcon Heavy Launch, Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Mission
SpaceX is setting its sights on Thursday night to launch a triple-core Falcon Heavy rocket and propel the Space Force’s X-37B uncrewed “mini-shuttle” space plane into orbit.
The launch is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. EST on Thursday, with the Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters targeting landings at SpaceX’s Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
In addition to this mission, there are also plans for a Falcon 9 rocket to launch another batch of Starlink internet-beaming satellites into low-Earth orbit. This launch is scheduled for 11 p.m. and will extend into the early hours of Friday morning.
Amid these exciting developments, a few weather concerns may impact the launch, with the primary concern being the potential for Cumulus Cloud Rule associated with any showers that may develop ahead and along the front moving eastward.
If any delays arise, SpaceX will aim for a backup launch opportunity at 8:06 p.m. on Friday.
This mission marks the seventh secretive mission for the Boeing-built X-37B space plane, designated USSF-52. The X-37B achieved a record-breaking 908 days in orbit before landing in November 2022 at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility.
“Our national security space launches transport our most important capabilities into orbit,” said Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, commander of Space Launch Delta 45, in a November press release about the X-37B mission.
For more launch schedule updates and to keep up with the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Rick Neale, Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY, contributed to this report. He can be reached at 321-242-3638 or [email protected]. You can also find him on Twitter at @RickNeale1.
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