SpaceX received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to resume its flights. Without wasting any time, they successfully conducted launches from both Florida and California on Saturday. However, due to unfavorable weather conditions, the crewed Polaris Dawn launch is currently postponed.
The Falcon 9, SpaceX’s main rocket, was grounded by the FAA following a fiery landing in the Atlantic. The incident occurred after a launch from Cape Canaveral earlier in the week, resulting in the first-stage booster toppling over.
According to a statement released by the FAA on Friday night, the SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle might resume its flight operations despite the ongoing investigation into the anomaly that occurred during the Starlink Group 8-6 mission. The FAA approved SpaceX’s request for a return to flight on August 30, following the request made by SpaceX on August 29. All other license requirements will need to be met for the resumption of flight operations.
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SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40, sending 21 Starlink satellites into orbit at 3:43 a.m.
This launch was the 61st to take place from the Space Coast, and SpaceX was responsible for all but four of them.
The first-stage booster successfully completed its 18th flight and flawlessly landed on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.
Less than an hour later, SpaceX launched an additional Falcon 9 rocket, carrying 21 more Starlink satellites. This mission took place at Vandenberg Space Force Base’s Space Launch Complex 4E.
The first-stage booster successfully completed its ninth flight, touching down on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX’s latest launch on the West Coast marked an impressive milestone for the company. This mission was their 24th successful launch in the region, adding to their already impressive record of 85 operational missions this year. It’s worth noting that this count does not include the two test flights of Starship and Super Heavy from Texas. This achievement showcases SpaceX’s continuous commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
SpaceX has received approval to proceed with its upcoming human spaceflight mission, known as the Polaris Dawn mission. This mission will mark the return of billionaire Jared Isaacman to space, who will be accompanied by three crewmates.
In 2021, Isaacman had his first experience flying with SpaceX on the Inspiration4 mission, which was a groundbreaking all-commercial crewed spaceflight.
He is making a comeback in collaboration with SpaceX for the inaugural flight of the Polaris Program, which has the potential for up to three spaceflights. The standout moment of the first mission will be the historic first commercial spacewalk, featuring Isaacman and his crewmate Sarah Gillis, who is an employee at SpaceX. During this extraordinary event, they will venture outside the spacecraft, connected by a 12-foot-long tether.
Scott Poteet, a former Air Force pilot and one of Isaacman’s friends, will also be flying on the mission. Anna Menon, another SpaceX employee, will be joining the crew as well. As the entire Crew Dragon will be exposed to the vacuum of space, all four crew members will be equipped with new extravehicular activity (EVA) suits.
The team of four astronauts had planned to launch early last week, but an issue with a helium leak on the launch pad caused SpaceX to cancel that attempt. As they prepared for a second try on Wednesday, SpaceX revealed that the weather conditions at the potential landing sites in Florida were not favorable for the next five days. As a result, they decided to postpone the launch on both Wednesday and Thursday.
The rocket experienced a launch and first-stage landing failure at Cape Canaveral, prompting the FAA to initiate an investigation and temporarily ground the rocket for a couple of days.
SpaceX informed on Friday that the weather conditions were still unfavorable, making it highly unlikely for any launch opportunities to occur over the weekend.
“According to the latest forecasts, the weather conditions in the areas along Florida’s coast, where Dragon is expected to splash down after its return from space, are not favorable,” stated the company on X. The company further added, “We will provide an update as soon as our teams identify the next best opportunity for the launch and return of the Polaris Dawn mission. Currently, Falcon 9 and Dragon are in good health and are positioned vertically on the pad at 39A.”
The Space Force has given the green light for the Falcon 9 to take off from KSC as early as Wednesday at 3:38 a.m. This marks the first of three chances within a launch window that extends until 7:15 a.m. Backup launch opportunities are also available on Thursday and Friday of next week, both within the same launch window.
“The crew is currently in quarantine, staying busy, maintaining their fitness, and preparing for launch within around 30 hours of receiving a positive weather forecast,” Isaacman shared on X this week.
The Orlando Sentinel originally published this article in 2024. It is distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
