SpaceX is preparing to launch its Dragon spacecraft toward the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 on Tuesday night. The CRS-34 mission is scheduled for 7:16 p.m. with a backup window at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday. The flight will carry 6,500 pounds of supplies for astronauts aboard the space station. Weather forecasts, however, remain uncertain. Space Launch Delta 45’s weather team gives the launch site only a 35% chance of favorable conditions on Tuesday, rising to 65% on Wednesday and 85% if the attempt moves to Thursday.
The Falcon 9 rocket’s first-stage booster is set to make its sixth trip to space. It will attempt a landing at Landing Zone 40, adjacent to the launch pad. SpaceX has warned residents of Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Indian River, Seminole, Volusia, Polk, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties could hear a sonic boom during the booster’s return. The noise, caused by the rocket breaking the sound barrier about eight minutes after liftoff, depends on weather and other factors, the company said in an advisory.
This mission marks the sixth flight for the Dragon cargo spacecraft. It will take about 38 hours to reach the ISS, where it is expected to dock at 9:50 a.m. May 14. The spacecraft will remain attached for roughly a month before returning to Earth, targeting a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The Falcon 9’s first-stage booster has previously landed at Landing Zone 40, but this will be its first attempt from that site during the CRS-34 mission.
SpaceX’s launch team will monitor weather conditions closely, as delays could shift the timeline. If the mission proceeds as planned, the sonic boom advisory will remain in effect for the specified counties. The launch is part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract, ensuring regular deliveries of food, experiments, and equipment to the space station. Residents are urged to stay informed through SpaceX’s updates as the countdown continues.