SpaceX stands down from Falcon 9 launch at windy Cape Canaveral; next attempt is Friday

SpaceX has stood down from today's Falcon 9 rocket launch attempt, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows.

And — though SpaceX has yet to make a public announcement — gusty winds this afternoon may have played a factor at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Now, SpaceX is targeting a new 4½-hour window from 3:31-8:01 p.m. EDT Friday to send up the Starlink 8-19 mission from Launch Complex 40, per the FAA.

The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron forecast had only called for 50-50 odds of favorable weather today because of wind gusts. Friday's forecast is even worse, with 40% favorable odds.

Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule from Florida

If the Falcon 9 lifts off Friday, it will deploy another payload of Starlink internet-beaming satellites , which are packed inside the fairing atop the 230-foot rocket. No Central Florida sonic booms are expected. After flying along a northeasterly trajectory, the rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship out at sea roughly eight minutes after liftoff.

This mission will mark the 71st orbital rocket launch thus far this year from Florida's Space Coast — just one shy of the annual record of 72 launches.

For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space .

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com . Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX stands down from Falcon 9 launch at windy Cape Canaveral; next attempt is Friday