Cape Canaveral, FL – A Falcon 9 rocket carrying NOAA’s newest space weather satellite is now scheduled to launch Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 a.m. EDT from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, the SWFO-L1 spacecraft is secured atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 and remains healthy despite the 24-hour delay. Officials postponed the launch to allow additional recovery assets to arrive at the designated landing zone. Weather conditions for liftoff are reported to be 90% favorable.
The mission will carry three payloads: NOAA’s SWFO-L1, NASA’s IMAP, and the Carruthers spacecraft. Once deployed, SWFO-L1 will orbit at Lagrange Point 1, nearly 1 million miles from Earth. From this position, the satellite will provide crucial solar weather observations, monitor coronal mass ejections, and track solar wind.
NOAA scientists say the data will improve early warning systems for space weather, which can affect satellites, power grids, and communications on Earth. The launch marks NOAA’s first-ever operational space weather satellite at this location.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 has been rolled out vertically and is undergoing final pre-launch checks. If conditions hold, the rocket will lift off Wednesday morning with a high probability of success.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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