A SpaceX rocket continued to linger as unfavorable weather kept Falcon and its Starlink payload at Vandenberg Space Force Base for at least another day.

The team now will try for liftoff from Space Launch Complex-4 on the South Base between 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Friday. 

As the team counted down Thursday, one member declared “hold, hold, hold” with approximately 30 seconds until departure. 

“We have scrubbed the attempt today,” the launch director said after the clock stopped. “This is due to range being red for weather.”

The range monitors rocket launches and missile tests from Vandenberg to ensure they occur safely while traveling to their intended destinations. 

Rain doesn’t necessarily force the team to halt the countdown, but windy conditions and clouds that trigger lightning as the rocket rises are among constraints that can keep a launch vehicle on the ground.

Once it does lift off, the first-stage booster, making its 36th flight, will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship positioned in the Pacific Ocean. It is set to deliver 27 Starlink satellites into space.

Unfavorable weather at sea also can cause launch delays.

A live webcast of the mission is scheduled to begin about 10 minutes before liftoff at spacex.com/launches and on X @SpaceX.