CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX has postponed the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket on the Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center due to off-nominal methane temperatures. The new liftoff time is set for 1:05 a.m. Thursday, with Odysseus, the private company’s moon lander, launching via NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative and Artemis campaign.
The Falcon 9 first-stage booster will aim to land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, creating sonic booms on the Space Coast upon separation. The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 90% chance of “go for launch” weather for the new Thursday target time, with thick cloud layers and a low-to-moderate risk of upper-level wind shear posing the primary concerns.
After the delay, space enthusiasts and industry followers are eagerly waiting for the new launch time, anticipating the historic moment when Odysseus touches down on the moon’s surface. The collaboration between SpaceX and Intuitive Machines represents a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to explore and utilize space resources.
This mission holds great promise for advancing scientific research and commercial opportunities on the moon and beyond, as human efforts to expand space exploration continue to gain momentum.
As the new target launch date approaches, the focus remains on weather conditions and technical readiness, with the anticipation of successful deployment of Odysseus and its potential to pave the way for future lunar missions. Stay updated for more news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center as this historic event unfolds.