BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Get ready for lift off!
Two rocket launches were scheduled to happen within 24 hours of each other in Central Florida but they were rescheduled due to inclement weather..
“We haven’t done this in this short a period of time in 50 years,” said Dale Ketcham, vice president of government & external relations with Space Florida. “In 1963, there were over 200 launches.”
On Saturday, the United Launch Alliance attempted to launch its X-37B orbital test vehicle atop a ULA Atlas V rocket but the launch was scrubbed due to inclement weather. The flight will also be used to deploy a small satellite developed by the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Officials said the mission was set to lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 8:24 a.m. Saturday, but it was postponed till 9:14 a.m. Sunday.
Read: Weather could scrub this morning’s Atlas V rocket launch at Cape Canaveral
The mission has been dedicated in honor of the front-line workers and those affected by COVID-19, officials said.
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SpaceX is scheduled to launch its eighth Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to deliver a batch of 60 satellites into orbit for its broadband network. That launch was scheduled for early Sunday, but it will now happen Tuesday.
Read: Rocket launches and ‘A Salute to the Songwriters': 9 things to do this weekend
The launches are occurring during a global pandemic. Ketcham said the launches are “considered essential, critical functions, and the nation will go ahead and execute those with appropriate safety restraints of course.”
Channel 9 will be streaming the launches on its website and on its Facebook page.
Both launches will also be available to watch on Channel 9.
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