SpaceX delays weekend Falcon 9 launch from KSC and landing

This weekend's planned launch of a previously flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center with a communications satellite has been delayed due to weather and other concerns.

SpaceX was targeting 6:53 p.m. Saturday for the opening of a two-hour launch window at pad 39A, but teams pushed back to no earlier than Wednesday, Oct. 11. A similar launch window is expected.

The delay gives SpaceX more time to prepare the launch vehicle and bypass inclement weather headed for the Space Coast, which will likely be stirred up by a system swirling in the Caribbean.

Tropical Storm Nate is expected to strengthen as it moves across open waters of the Gulf of Mexico and possibly achieve hurricane status as it approaches the United States this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

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"Meteorological models are spread and impact the coast anywhere from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle," Air Force weather forecasters said on Wednesday.

Next week's mission aims to take EchoStar 105 / SES-11, an 11,000-pound commercial communications satellite, to orbit for eventual coverage of North America, including all 50 U.S. states, parts of Mexico and the Caribbean. Colorado-based EchoStar and Luxembourg-based SES will operate the dual-mission satellite.

The mission marks SpaceX's third attempt at flying a previously launched, or "flight proven," booster. It's expected to land on the "Of Course I Still Love You" drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean shortly after liftoff.

If the landing goes smoothly, the first stage should arrive at Port Canaveral by early-to-mid next week. 

But that's not the only thing on SpaceX's plate – the company is also targeting Monday for the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. A successful test firing of the rocket's nine Merlin main engines was initiated Thursday morning, clearing the way for the launch of 10 Iridium NEXT communications satellites.

Contact Emre Kelly at aekelly@floridatoday.com or 321-242-3715. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook at @EmreKelly.