NASA-SpaceX PACE Launch: All You Need to Know About the Late-Night Sonic Booms

NASA's inaugural Earth-science mission of 2024 faces potential delay due to adverse weather conditions, as cautioned by the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron.

Scheduled for an overnight launch, SpaceX and NASA have set their sights on 1:33 a.m. EST Tuesday for the deployment of the PACE spacecraft via a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Should the Falcon 9 embark on its journey, SpaceX has announced plans for the first-stage booster to return to the Space Force base approximately 7 minutes and 32 seconds later, resulting in late-night sonic booms reverberating throughout the surrounding area.

However, an initial forecast from the 45th Weather Squadron indicates a mere 40% likelihood of favorable launch conditions at Cape Canaveral. Factors such as cumulus clouds, liftoff winds, and dense cloud layers contribute to the uncertainty surrounding the mission's timing.