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Scrubbed: Upper-Level Winds Delay Launch Of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy

Crews positioned the Falcon Heavy vertically ahead of launch from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: Brendan Byrne / WMFE
Crews positioned the Falcon Heavy vertically ahead of launch from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: Brendan Byrne / WMFE

Update (7:30 PM -- 4/10/19):

SpaceX is standing down from an attempt to launch its Falcon Heavy rocket. Upper-level winds affected the launch countdown on Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center.

"Upper atmospheric wind shear is very high," said SpaceX founder Elon Musk shortly before cancelling the launch. The team will recycle the rocket and try again Thursday.

The three-booster rocket with 27 engines rolled out to its launchpad Wednesday morning. The mission is to launch a Saudi Arabian communication satellite about the size of a school bus into space.

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Once the rocket does launch, SpaceX plans to land two of the boosters back at Cape Canaveral. Residents along the Space Coast are likely to hear multiple sonic booms. The third booster will land on a barge at sea.

This will be the first operation mission of the rocket. SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy last year on a test mission which brought tens of thousands of onlookers to the area.

Police officials expect a similar number this week -- and law enforcement's presence will increase. "We’re preparing for that with extra details and traffic enforcement during that time,” said Titusville Police Department's Amy Matthews.

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Brendan Byrne is Central Florida Public Media's Assistant News Director, managing the day-to-day operations of the newsroom, editing daily news stories, and managing the organization's internship program. Byrne also hosts Central Florida Public Media's weekly radio show and podcast "Are We There Yet?" which explores human space exploration, and the weekly news roundup podcast "The Wrap."