SpaceX Aims for Second Falcon Heavy Launch Attempt After Weather Delay SpaceX is preparing for a second attempt to launch its Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, following a scrubbed mission on Monday due to unfavorable weather conditions. The launch, scheduled for Wednesday, will carry the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite, the third and final satellite in the ViaSat-3 constellation, into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Liftoff is set for 10:13 a.m. EDT (1413 UTC), with the satellite’s deployment expected nearly five hours after launch. The mission marks the 12th flight of the Falcon Heavy rocket, which debuted in 2018. Two of its previous missions carried ViaSat-3 satellites, with the F2 satellite launched on an Atlas 5 rocket in November 2025. The F3 satellite, weighing six metric tons, will be deployed into an orbit optimized for electric propulsion, allowing for faster orbital adjustments. Dave Abrahamian, Viasat’s vice president of Satellite Systems, noted that the Falcon Heavy’s capabilities enable a more efficient transfer orbit compared to the Atlas 5, reducing the time required for on-orbit commissioning. The launch window, spanning 85 minutes, has improved weather prospects, with a 90% chance of favorable conditions, up from the 55% forecasted for Monday. Meteorologists remain cautious about thick clouds, which could impact visibility during the launch. The Falcon Heavy’s three boosters include a mix of reused and new components, with the side boosters—tail numbers 1072 and 1075—set to land at two separate sites: Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2) and Landing Zone 40 (LZ-40). The core stage, a new booster designated B1098, will not be recovered and will be discarded in the Atlantic Ocean. Abrahamian highlighted the significance of the ViaSat-3 constellation, emphasizing its flexibility and capacity.#spacex #kennedy_space_center #falcon_heavy #via_sat_3 #dave_abrahamian
