Falcon 9 rocket test-fired on pad 39A for next Starlink launch (members only)

SpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket on pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida early Wednesday. The static fire test is a key milestone for SpaceX’s next launch with Starlink satellites, a mission currently scheduled to take off no earlier than Sunday, Feb. 28.

The Falcon 9 fired up its nine Merlin 1D main engines at 3 a.m. EST (0800 GMT) Wednesday on pad 39A. It was the second test-firing for this mission after a previous static fire test Jan. 31.

This launch has been delayed nearly one month by weather and technical concerns related to the Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX has not specified the technical reasons for the delays. Two other Falcon 9 missions have launched from neighboring pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station while this mission has awaited to lift off.

Both Falcon 9s from pad 40 also carried Starlink satellites into orbit.