SpaceX delays Vandenberg rocket launch — and Dragon mission could push it back even further
SpaceX has delayed its Monday rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base — and there’s a chance it won’t happen this week at all.
The aerospace company was originally expected to launch its Falcon 9 rocket from the Central Coast base early Monday evening, but delayed to “allow more time for pre-launch checkouts,” according to a SpaceX tweet.
The company is now targeting a Vandenberg launch on Tuesday at 4:35 p.m., though it could be delayed due to ongoing preparations for another SpaceX mission.
SpaceX is currently preparing to launch its Crew-5 mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday.
That flight will carry a crew to the International Space Station.
If that mission looks on track, SpaceX says it will likely delay the Vandenberg launch. The company did not disclose when the California launch might be delayed to.
Meanwhile, the Vandenberg mission is slated to carry 52 more Starlink satellites into orbit.
SpaceX has launched eight other Starlink missions, carrying dozens of satellites for its communications constellation, from Vandenberg so far this year.
A live webcast of the launch will air on SpaceX’s website at spacex.com/launches/sl4-29.
%20Cropped.jpg)