UPDATE: The Falcon 9 launch that will send a security payload into space for the National Reconnaissance Office has been delayed from its Friday morning liftoff time.
In a tweet shared at 8:50 p.m. Thursday night, SpaceX said the earliest the NROL-85 mission will launch is now some time on Saturday, April 16.
The National Reconnaissance Office said the launch has been delayed because of technical difficulties.
#NROL85 has been delayed due to technical difficulties. Safely launching the mission remains our highest priority, and updates will be made when available. @SLDelta30 @SpaceX @USSF_SSC https://t.co/bPZOKLbIJR
— NRO (@NatReconOfc) April 15, 2022
On Thursday afternoon, SpaceX had tweeted that the weather was 70% favorable for the original liftoff.
It did not appear that weather was a factor in the delay.
SpaceX has not provided a new target time for the launch.
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UPDATE: The launch time has been set for 6:41 a.m. Friday. If it does not happen, the next attempt would be Saturday at 6:27 a.m.
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ORIGINAL STORY: SpaceX is preparing for another launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The launch window Friday for the Falcon 9 is between 5:59 a.m. and 7:25 a.m.
The NROL-85 mission is the second partnership between SpaceX and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) this year.
It will be the first NRO launch to reuse a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster. The plan is to reuse the same SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster used in the February NROL-87 launch.
Following the launch, the rocket's first stage will return to land on Landing Zone 4 at the base.
People from Ventura to San Luis Obispo counties may hear several sonic booms as the vehicle breaks the sound barrier upon re-entry.
The rocket will carry a national security payload designed by the NRO.
