Remote cameras have been retrieved from four days on this iconic launch site LC-39A for a successful SpaceX Falcon Heavy triple core beast of a rocket during the Hughes Connect Jupiter 3 mission last night
at 11:04 PM 7-28-23.
Historic mission for the 7th ever Falcon Heavy rocket lifting the heaviest single commercial satellite to space. This is the 38th launch for Cape Kennedy/Canaveral in 2023 and SpaceX 51st launch to date. Falcon Heavy is 5.1 million pounds of thrust at
liftoff!
I can tell you this launch was extremely bright like looking into the sun with a telescope to capture the images. One scrub, high heat, multiple rain storms and heavy dew with a hazy cloudy night made for a challenging three days and nights but it was worth it.
UPDATE: SpaceX has pushed Hughes EchoStar 24 Jupiter 3 Falcon Heavy to Friday July 28th at 11:04 PM!
Last night's 7th SpaceX Falcon Heavy for Hughes Industries EchoStar-24 Jupiter 3 launch attempt was scrubbed just before 11:04 PM for a violation of abort criteria as the mid level cloud deck started clearing for what would have been a beautiful liftoff from LC-39A.
The weather for tonight's attempt (same time as yesterday's 11:04 PM with a 99 minute window) is not as good
with a 60% chance of weather violations causing a scrub. The same 60% risk holds true for a 2nd SpaceX Starlink 6-7 launch from SLC-40 Cape Canaveral at 10:20 PM just 44 minutes before the Falcon Heavy attempt.
The center core booster is B-1079 is on it's maiden flight which will be expended to help place this 9.2 ton commercial satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The two sooty side boosters are B-1064 & B-1065 on their 3rd flight attempt and LZ-1 & LZ-2 landing attempts similar to their past success with (foggy) USSF-44 & USSF-67.
It will be interesting to see if the planned Starlink 6-7 will push back by a day with a better weather outlook of 30% No Go because Hughes Industries request SpaceX to only concentrate on their launch attempt and push the Starlink back a day. We have seen this occur with NASA & DOD missions previously.
It wouldn't surprise me if this occurs and only one launch attempt takes place tonight.
Photos by Scott Schilke SpaceNewsFl.com Marco Island Florida