SpaceX Attempting 1st Stage Landing After Rocket Launch (AKA Crazy Space Stuff)

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When their Texas launch site is operational, they *might* be able to land the first stage in Florida, if they can get FAA clearance and convince the residents of the Keys that a 15 story rocket stage falling towards their houses at supersonic speeds is perfectly safe.
One problem (out of many) is that the first stage just doesn't go that far.

Florida is ~1600km from Brownsville, TX. They normally put the barge about 350km from the launch site. For yesterday's launch where the first stage flew farther than normal and didn't do a boost-back burn at all, they landed around 650km out, still not even half the distance they would need to cross the Gulf.
 
After a 2-launch break, they're giving this another go today. The main mission is ISS resupply, launch at 16:33 EDT. The landing barge is already on station and the they reckon they've got a "75-80% chance" of pulling it off.
 
I just can't believe how often Space X launches shit and how quickly they can improve their technology. It would probably take them the better part of a summer break to do a Mars mission.
 
The audio is ahead on the space-x site, but the video is ahead on the youtube channel...

Clock on the corner is counting up, not down....
 
Sounds like the weather might be a bit dicey with some lightning strikes seen just outside of the threshold area.

T- 12 minutes

EDIT: If they call it due to weather, they'll retry it again tomorrow at around the same time.
 
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Anvil cloud rule my ass. I hate these.
 
Launches keep getting scrubbed due to bad weather. Space travel is such a bitch on every possible level.
It's unfortunate that the best place for launching rockets in the USA has such changeable weather. That said, the Russians will launch in pretty much any weather.
 
It's unfortunate that the best place for launching rockets in the USA has such changeable weather. That said, the Russians will launch in pretty much any weather.

Yeah, it's definitely just better to wait a day rather than lose a very expensive rocket, and yes, the Russians don't give a crap hahaha.
 
Is there often inclement weather at Russia's facility? I was under the impression that it was a pretty good place weather wise to launch from.
 
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