SpaceX targets Tuesday morning for Bandwagon-5 rideshare launch after weather scrub

What is scheduled

SpaceX is attempting to launch its Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, after a Monday attempt was scrubbed, Spaceflight Now reported. ^[1]

The mission carries 32 payloads, including cubesats, microsatellites and reentry vehicles, according to WFTV. Spaceflight Now's coverage describes 31 customer payloads plus a SpaceX reentry capsule called Starfall. ^{[1] [2]}

Spaceflight Now reported that the first-stage booster, B1085, was on its 19th flight, with a landing planned on a droneship in the Atlantic. WFTV's account of the booster's earlier missions matches the 19th-flight figure. ^{[1] [2]}

Why Monday's attempt was called off

Spaceflight Now said SpaceX scrubbed Monday's attempt because of poor weather, and Rolling Out reported that the delay was not a technical failure. The new target was Tuesday, October 20. ^{[1] [3]}

The Spaceflight Now report gave the Tuesday window as opening at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 UTC) and lasting one hour. WFTV, published later on Tuesday morning, reported a launch no earlier than 7:04 a.m., with a backup opportunity on Wednesday starting at 6:30 a.m. The sources differ on the exact liftoff time within the window. ^{[1] [2]}

What is not yet known

None of the pages reviewed for this report was published after the scheduled liftoff, so they do not say whether the rocket launched, whether the booster landed or whether the payloads reached orbit. This article will be updated when SpaceX or launch-coverage outlets confirm the outcome. ^[2]

WFTV's headline said the launch could create a "jellyfish" cloud, a visual effect sometimes seen when a rocket's exhaust plume catches sunlight near dawn or dusk. The article body did not elaborate on that. ^[2]