SpaceX SES-9 Mission Set for Wednesday Evening Liftoff (Update 3)

All Packed Up With Somewhere to Go
Credit: SpaceX

Update 3:

After counting down through cloudy skies, today’s flight was delayed until Thursday.

SpaceX provided two updates, the first on Twitter and the second on the company website.

Team opting to hold launch for today. Looking to try again tomorrow; window also opens at 6:46pm ET. Rocket and spacecraft remain healthy.

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 24, 2016

And from the website:

“The Falcon 9 remains healthy in advance of SpaceX and SES’s mission to deliver the SES-9 satellite to Geostationary Transfer Orbit. Out of an abundance of caution, the team opted to hold launch for today to ensure liquid oxygen temperatures are as cold as possible in an effort to maximize performance of the vehicle. SpaceX is now targeting tomorrow, Thursday Feb. 25, at 6:46pm ET for launch of SES-9.”

Update 2: From SpaceX Twitter Feed

Weather remains 60% go for tomorrow's launch attempt. Window opens at 6:46pm ET. Webcast → https://t.co/tdni53IviI pic.twitter.com/nPgm32vwA9

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 23, 2016

Full-duration static fire completed. Targeting Wednesday for launch of SES-9 satellite @SES_Satellites pic.twitter.com/lp6nxGvUuH

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 22, 2016

Update 1: Florida Today reports that SpaceX conducted a static fire of the Falcon 9 first stage on Monday. Results from the test will be analylized in advance of a Lauch Readiness Review, the last formal step before an official countdown begins. Weather may be a factor however, as the odds of favorable conditions currently stand at 60% for Wednesday, and 80% for Thursday.

Original post:

From Livestream:

“SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will deliver SES-9, a commercial communications satellite for SES, to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). SES is a world-leading satellite operator that provides satellite-enabled communications services to broadcasters, Internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators, and business and governmental organizations worldwide using its fleet of more than 50 geostationary satellites. SpaceX is targeting an evening launch of SES-9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The approximately 90-minute launch window opens on February 24 at 6:46:14 pm ET. A backup launch window opens at 6:46:17 pm ET on February 25. The satellite will be deployed approximately 31 minutes after liftoff.”

The launch will be broadcast on SpaceX’s Livestream channel, as well as SpaceX.com.

If anyone is questioning whether or not SpaceX is intending to attempt a first stage recovery the first Falcon 9 Full Thrust to loft a GSO comsat, the mission patch might provide a clue.