Launch recap: Scroll down for live coverage of the Feb. 14-15 back-to-back liftoffs of two SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets — USSF-124 and Intuitive Machines IM-1 — from Cape Canaveral.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live coverage of this evening's launch doubleheader — with two SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets scheduled to lift off from the Cape within a roughly 7½-hour span!
At 1:05 a.m. EST Thursday, SpaceX will try again to launch Odysseus, Intuitive Machines' first Nova-C lunar lander, from Kennedy Space Center on the IM-1 mission to attempt to reach the moon's surface eight days after liftoff.
Earlier, SpaceX launched the Space Force's classified USSF-124 mission at 5:30 p.m. from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. That Falcon 9 sent two satellites for the Missile Defense Agency and four satellites for the Space Development Agency into orbit, according to a Space Force press release.
The Intuitive Machines mission was initially scheduled to lift off this morning at 12:57 a.m., but SpaceX scrubbed the launch "due to off-nominal methane temperatures prior to stepping into methane load." The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predicts 90% "go for launch" meteorological conditions for this upcoming second attempt.
Expect sonic booms.Following stage separation, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster will target landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Update 1:13 a.m.:The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed, completing its 18th mission.
Liftoff!
Update 1:05 a.m.:SpaceX has just launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Intuitive Machines moon lander up to a lunar transfer orbit from KSC.
SpaceX lunar lander launch coming up
Update 12:55 a.m.:Ten minutes before SpaceX's scheduled 1:05 a.m. Falcon 9 launch, the countdown appears to be proceeding as planned. Rocket fueling remains well underway at pad 39A.
Following is a list of the mission's key upcoming countdown milestones. T-minus:
- 7 minutes:Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
- 1 minute:Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 45 seconds:SpaceX launch director verifies “go for launch."
- 3 seconds:Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
- 0 seconds:Falcon 9 liftoff.
SpaceX booster logging 18th mission
Update 12:50 a.m.: Tonight's Intuitive Machines mission will marks the 18th flight of the Falcon 9 first-stage booster, SpaceX reported.
The much-used booster previously launched GPS III-3, Turksat 5A, Transporter-2, Intelsat G-33/G-34, Transporter-6 and a dozen Starlink missions, SpaceX reported.
The booster will target a return to terra firma 7 minutes, 34 seconds after liftoff at SpaceX's Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The USSF-124 booster touched down nearby at Landing Zone 2.
SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling now underway
Update 12:35 a.m.: Update from SpaceX: "Fueling of the IM-1 lander is complete, and propellant load of Falcon 9 has begun."
NASA TV launch webcast begins
Update 12:30 a.m.: NASA TV's IM-1 launch broadcast is now posted at the top of this page.
Liftoff is scheduled in 35 minutes from KSC.
Watch SpaceX Falcon 9 launch, land
Update 12:15 a.m.: Port Canaveral officials have released a highlight video showing today's USSF-124 SpaceX Falcon 9 soaring skyward off the pad, followed by its first-stage booster descending for a landing.
SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard
Update 12:05 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of the upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
Space Force: Weather 90% 'go' for IM-1
Update 11:40 p.m.: As of 10:55 p.m., the National Weather Service reported fair skies, a temperature of 59, and calm breezes at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron cited thick cloud layers and a low-to-moderate risk of upper-level wind shear as the mission's meteorological concerns, noting "at least a scattered mid- to upper-level cloud deck streaming across the Florida peninsula."
SpaceX: Moon lander fueling is underway
Update 11:20 p.m.: A SpaceX tweet has announced, "fueling of the IM-1 lander is underway, and weather is currently 90% favorable for liftoff."
Teams will load the lunar lander with cryogenic methane and oxygen on the pad before stepping into propellant-loading procedures for the Falcon 9, SpaceX reported.
Intuitive Machines mission details
Update 11:01 p.m.: Founded in 2013, Intuitive Machines is a Houston-headquartered vendor company in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.
"This mission’s primary objective is to deliver a variety of payloads to the Moon’s south pole region, a part of the Moon that remains unexplored," an Intuitive Machines press kit said.
"These payloads include scientific instruments and technology demonstrations that aim to pave the way for future human and robotic exploration of the Moon," the press kit said.
Odysseus should orbit the Moon about a dozen times before descending to the surface, the company reported.
USSF-124 classified satellite details
Update 8:53 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast provided insight about the six secretive satellites launched into low-Earth orbit during the USSF-124 mission.
"SpaceX will be delivering two prototype satellites to orbit as part of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor program," said Youmei Zhou, a SpaceX Dragon propulsion engineer.
"When fully operational, the system will detect hypersonic, ballistic and other advanced threats earlier than terrestrial radars, providing hypersonic threat-tracking data to hand over to the U.S. ballistic missile defense system," Zhou said.
L3Harris Technologies delivered the other four tracking satellites, which will complete a 27-satellite missile-defense constellation, a Space Development Agency press release said.
SpaceX rocket booster landing photo
Update 8:04 p.m.: FLORIDA TODAY Senior Photographer Malcolm Denemark captured this image of the USSF-124 Falcon 9 first-stage booster returning for its post-launch landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Update 5:38 p.m.:The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just touched down at SpaceX's Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, completing its seventh mission.
Liftoff!
Update 5:30 p.m.:SpaceX has just launched a Falcon 9 rocket on the secretive USSF-124 national security mission from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX USSF-124 launch webcast begins
Update 5:17 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) has begun.
Liftoff is scheduled in 13 minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX USSF-124 countdown timeline
Update 5:10 p.m.:With fueling underway, here's a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX’s remaining countdown timeline. T-minus:
- 16 minutes:Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 7 minutes:Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
- 1 minute:Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 45 seconds:SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.
- 3 seconds:Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
- 0 seconds:Liftoff.
SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling now underway
Update 5 p.m.: Visual cues at Launch Complex 40 indicate SpaceX crews have commenced Falcon 9 rocket-fueling procedures.
SpaceX booster to make seventh launch
Update 4:40 p.m.: SpaceX reported this will mark the seventh launch of the Falcon 9 first-stage booster, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER and four Starlink missions.
The booster will target a landing 8 minutes, 1 second after launch.
Falcon 9s to log 11th national security flight
Update 4:25 p.m.: Space Force officials have released scant details about the secretive USSF-124 mission.
In a press release this morning, they reported this marks the 11th national security launch supported by a SpaceX Falcon 9. In terms of pacing, this marks the eighth since December 2018.
“With each national security launch, we continue to strengthen America’s capabilities and its deterrence in the face of growing threats while adding stability to a very dynamic world. It’s what we do in the Space Force, and we take that charge seriously," Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel leader for Space System Command’s Launch Execution Delta, said in the press release.
Space Force: 95+% 'go for launch' weather
Update 4:09 p.m.: More details from the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron forecast for the USSF-124 launch, which noted an influx of cool, dry air.
"An area of high pressure will slide in from the west as the day progresses (Tuesday into Wednesday), shifting low level winds from the west to the north. The high will be centered just to the north of the Spaceport by (Wednesday) afternoon, bringing very favorable weather for the primary launch window," the forecast said.
"The only concern is the negligible risk of a Thick Cloud Layers Rule due to the upper level jet stream situated over northern Florida," the forecast said.
For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visitfloridatoday.com/space.
Rick Nealeis a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories,click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 orrneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X:@RickNeale1
