SpaceX was forced to delay a highly anticipated return flight of its heavy-lift rocket on Monday, with poor weather conditions halting the mission just seconds before liftoff.
The mission would have been the first Falcon Heavy launch in more than a year and a half.
Falcon Heavy scrubbed at the last moment
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the final satellite in the ViaSat-3 constellation was scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center on April 27. However, the countdown came to a stop at T-23 seconds when a last-minute weather violation triggered an automatic hold.
With fueling already underway and unable to be paused safely, the launch attempt had to be scrubbed entirely. Dark clouds and rain moving across Florida’s Space Coast ultimately proved too risky for liftoff, despite earlier forecasts suggesting a 70% chance of favourable conditions.
Standing down from today’s Falcon Heavy launch of the @viasat-3 F3 mission due to unfavorable weather. Vehicle and payload remain healthy. A new target date will be shared once confirmed
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 27, 2026
New launch target already set
SpaceX has since confirmed a new launch window, now targeting Wednesday, April 29, with liftoff scheduled for 10:13 a.m. EDT. The window will remain open for just over an hour, giving the company another opportunity to send the payload to orbit.
Now targeting Wednesday, April 29 for Falcon Heavy’s launch of the @viasat-3 F3 mission from Florida. The 85-minute window opens at 10:13 a.m. ET → https://t.co/Z9nzcfYdVU pic.twitter.com/M2NRy5UJ06
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 27, 2026
As with previous Falcon Heavy missions, the rocket will use three boosters. After stage separation, the side boosters will attempt synchronized landings at Cape Canaveral, while the center core will be intentionally expended in the Atlantic Ocean.
This mission will be the 12th flight of Falcon Heavy since its debut in 2018 and is one of the most powerful operational rockets in the world today.
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