Weather a concern for Amazon’s Kuiper launch
CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — The weather became a concern so SpaceX postponed the launch of two dozen of Amazon’s Kuiper satellites to Saturday.
What You Need To Know
- The KF-03 mission will launch from Space Launch Complex 40
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket had been to leave Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 9:34 p.m. ET Thursday.
The KF-03 mission’s launch window now opens at 8:41 p.m. ET Saturday, and it is set to close at 11:15 p.m. ET, stated the California-based company. That means SpaceX has during that time period to launch its Falcon 9 rocket.
The 45th Weather Squadron had only been forecasting a 45% chance of good liftoff weather Thursday, with the following violation rules in place: Cumulus cloud, lightning and surface electric field.
Find out more about the weather criteria for a Falcon 9 launch.
Still wet behind the grid fins
This is only the second launch for newcomer first-stage booster B1091.
Its maiden launch was back in August of this year during another Kuiper launch, KF-2 mission.
After the stage separation, B1091 is expected to land on SpaceX’s droneship Just Read the Instructions which will be in the Atlantic Ocean.
About the mission
This launch will see 24 of Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites go into an altitude of 392 miles (630 kilometers).
Like the SpaceX-owned company Starlink and its satellites that orbit Earth, Amazon’s Project Kuiper will have its own low-Earth orbital satellite network.
The Kuiper satellites will provide internet service to customers around the world.
Before this launch, there are 129 Kuiper satellites in orbit, with Amazon planning more than 3,200 once all is said and done.
