A Coast Guard investigation is underway after the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Harmony of the Seas was responsible for Sunday evening's scrub of a SpaceX launch fromCape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The ship veered into the exclusion zone along a Falcon 9 rocket's flightpath just before the 6:11 p.m. EST launch, forcing SpaceX to stand down from the mission and prepare for a 24-hour turnaround.Harmony of the Seas is the world's third-largest cruise ship at 226,963 gross tons. It has 2,747 staterooms, a passenger capacity of 6,687 and a crew of 2,200.
In a statement issued Monday, U.S. Coast Guard spokespersonDavid Micallef said: "We can confirm the cruise ship was Harmony of the Seas.The Coast Guard is actively investigating Sundays cruise ship incursion and postponement of the SpaceX launch."
"Our primary concern is the safety of mariners at sea, and we will continue to work with our federal, state and local port partners to ensure safe and navigable waterways," Micallef added.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson did not respond as of Monday afternoon to a request from FLORIDA TODAY for comment.
Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray said: "Port Canaveral fully supports the space industry in our region. This, unfortunately, was an isolated incident that happened outside of our control. The Coast Guard is conducting a full investigation, and we look forward to continuing to work with them and our space partners to ensure the continued success of this important enterprise.
Launch engineers waited as long as possible for the Coast Guard to resolve the situation, but ultimately ran out of time to meet the instantaneous window's deadline. It marked the fourth delay for the mission that was previously scrubbed due to inclement weather around Launch Complex 40.
Second mission scrub: SpaceX scrubs Cape Canaveral launch and landing a second time, citing weather
Fourth mission scrub: Cruise ship enters launch hazard area, forcing SpaceX to scrub mission a fourth time
Teams then targeted 6:11 p.m.Monday for the fifth attempt at launching an Italian Space Agency Earth observation satellite, and it launched at that time Monday.
Sunday's launch was slated to fly toward the southeast, a corridor that went unused from 1960 to 2020. New technologies have enabled SpaceX to resume north-to-south polar launches from Florida, which fly almost parallel to the coast, but also mean pilots and mariners need to be on the lookout for different exclusion zones.
Hazard areas, designed to mitigate risks to people in the event of a rocket failure, are issued before every mission.
Earlier in January,Space Launch Delta 45issued a statement and warned pilots and mariners that there would be upwards of five polar launches in January alone. Sunday's scheduled launch marked the fourth.
"The 2022 launch pace is going to be exceptionally busy, with up to five polar, and seven total launches, projected for the month of January alone," Space Force Maj.Jonathan Szul said in a statement. "Due to the unique southerly trajectories, there will be a larger potential impact to air and sea traffic along the southeast coast of Florida."
"We ask that all pilots and mariners double-check their Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) and Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) to ensure they are fully aware of all pending launch activities in this historic month on the Space Coast," Szul said.
Sunday's scrub also pushed a SpaceX mission originally slated for Monday: Yet another Falcon 9 rocket at Kennedy Space Center's pad 39A will have to wait a little longer for its task of launching the company's 37th batch of Starlink internet satellites.
The Harmony of the Seas sailed out ofPort Canaveral on Sunday for a seven-night cruise, with stops at St. Maarten, St. Thomas andPerfect Day at CocoCay, which is Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.
Contact Emre Kelly at aekelly@floridatoday.com or 321-242-3715. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @EmreKelly.
Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY.Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bydaveberman.
Support local journalism and journalists like me. Subscribe today.
Follow this link:
Coast Guard starts investigation of Royal Caribbean ship that caused SpaceX scrub - Florida Today
- Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise ships leave from Baltimore for the first time since the collapse of the Key Bridge - Yahoo! Voices - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Man with seizure on Royal Caribbean cruise had to pay $2500 bill during evacuation - The Independent - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Tropical threat may arise in Caribbean days after hurricane season begins - AOL - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- What you need to know about record-breaking heat in the Atlantic Yale Climate Connections - Yale Climate Connections - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- 13 Best Jack Sparrow Quotes in 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' Ranked - Collider - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- 8 Reasons Why Margot Robbie's Pirates Of The Caribbean Spinoff Is More Exciting Than POTC 6 - Screen Rant - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- PAHO urges countries to strengthen dengue prevention in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean - Pan American Health Organization - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Ride SURPRISED Us in Magic Kingdom See WHY! - AllEars.Net - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- US issues severe 'Do not travel' warning for this Caribbean country - New York Post - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- EU Commissioner Urpilainen Meets With Caribbean Counterparts At SIDS Conference in Antigua & Barbuda - EEAS - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Sailing the Seas of Success - FX Empire - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Sharp Dragon Expands Towards Africa and The Caribbean - Check Point Research - Check Point Research - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Heres What It's Like to Travel on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas - Remezcla - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Gwinnettdailypost.com - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- American company tells Mexico president that his $385m offer to buy its Caribbean property for ecotourism ... - Fortune - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Caribbean foods and culture highlighted at International Food Festival in Mount Vernon - News 12 Westchester - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- 7 Hidden Gem Islands In The Caribbean Perfect For Retirement - TheTravel - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - mycouriertribune.com - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Caribbean Heritage Month events hosted by PGParks & Recs - WUSA9.com - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Secrets of sargassum: Scientists advance knowledge of seaweed causing chaos in the Caribbean and West Africa - Phys.org - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Rockdale Newton Citizen - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Icon of the Seas: Exploring private islands, swim up bars and Broadway shows on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship - HELLO! - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Napoleon Northwest Signal - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Ben Bouldin to head of Royal Caribbean in China - - Cruise Adviser - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Lenoir News-Topic - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed clogging up Caribbean 'could be used to produce sustainable goods' - Islander News.com - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - The Elkhart Truth - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Herald Palladium - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - The Bryan Times - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Pirates Of The Caribbean Changed Completely Because Of Johnny Depp - Giant Freakin Robot - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Johnny Depp's Potential Return In Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot Addressed By Producer - Screen Rant - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Johnny Depp Will Return as Jack Sparrow if Pirates of the Caribbean Producer Gets His Way - MovieWeb - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Virgin Voyages Expands Caribbean Summer Season Pass - Cruise Industry News - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Pirates of the Caribbean Producer Interested in Bringing Johnny Depp Back, "We'll See What Happens" - ComicBook.com - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Johnny Depp Spotted on Disney Set, 'Pirates of the Caribbean 6' Confirmed - Inside the Magic - Inside the Magic - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Can the circular economy help the Caribbean win its war against waste? - Mongabay.com - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Heat Stress Is Hitting Caribbean Reefs Earlier Than Ever This Year - The New York Times - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- CTO says Caribbean Week in NYC 'set to sparkle' Caribbean Life - Caribbean Life - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Researchers propose building US-Caribbean 'super grid' to offset solar energy losses during tropical storms: 'Need to ... - The Cool Down - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Banyan Tree is making its first foray into the Caribbean market. - Breaking Travel News - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Caribbean Hot in 2024 Tourism Surge - Travel And Tour World - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Afro Caribbean Cultural Center on the move - Waterbury Republican American - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Pirates of the Caribbean franchise without Jack Sparrow? Read on - Deccan Chronicle - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Investing in gender equality in Latin America and the Caribbean for a better world - Comisin Econmica para Amrica Latina y el Caribe - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Pirates of the Caribbean Producer Confirms Two New Movies Are Now in Development - MovieWeb - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Patricia Affonso-Dass: Leading The Way In Caribbean Hospitality - Travel And Tour World - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- I hope you like Pirates of the Caribbean, because both a reboot and that thought-to-be-dead Margot Robbie movie are ... - VG247 - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Caribbean communicators and health promoters participate in PAHO-led workshop on Risk Communications and ... - Pan American Health Organization - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- American Airlines Boosts Service to Caribbean Destinations for Winter Travel - Business Traveler USA - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Disney Still Really Wants to Make That Margot Robbie Pirates of the Caribbean Movie, Jerry Bruckheimer Says - IGN - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Bubba-Doo's takes on the Caribbean Part 2 Baptist News Global - Baptist News Global - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Cruise ops returning to Baltimore after temporary move to Norfolk - 13newsnow.com WVEC - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- New Pirates of the Caribbean movies unlikely to feature Johnny Depp as lead - Business Insider India - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Tourism's contribution to Caribbean GDP expected to rise | News - Breaking Travel News - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War' Adds New Tacticians with Its 7th Anniversary Update TouchArcade - Touch Arcade - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum Awards ELM-Solar Island Energy Project as Microgrid of the Year - Microgrid Knowledge - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Unveils Bold Rebranding, Ushering In New Era For Caribbean Hospitality - Travel And Tour World - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Icon of the Seas by Wilson Butler Architects and Royal Caribbean is the world's largest cruise ship - The Architect's Newspaper - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Lrssen superyacht Lady Lara in the Caribbean - SuperYacht Times - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Climate Crisis Costs: Caribbean Nations Demand Global Financial System Reforms - Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- New satellite imagery reveals expanse of oil spill in Caribbean - Fox Weather - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Oil spill off Trinidad and Tobago blackens Caribbean beaches - The Washington Post - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Passenger dies aboard 9-month Royal Caribbean cruise around the world - NBC News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Group Signs with Chantiers For Next Oasis Class Ship - Cruise Industry News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Perfect Day at CocoCay new adult-only area: review - Business Insider - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Tourists Warned To Protect Their Passports As Thefts In The Mexican Caribbean On The Rise - The Cancun Sun - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Antigua: Elderly man charged with second homicide of 2024 | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- With Jamaica and Bahamas under travel advisories, which Caribbean islands are safe to book your next vacation? - SILive.com - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Gives Unprecedented Choice on Ultimate World Cruise - Cruise Hive - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Disney's Extensive Pirates of the Caribbean Change Officially Closes Attraction - Inside the Magic - Inside the Magic - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas: What it's like to stay on the largest cruise ship in the world - CNA: Breaking News, Singapore News, World and... - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- At Grenada's Spice Island Beach Resort, the Art of the Luxury All-Inclusive - Caribbean Journal - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Director Malaury Eloi-Paisley on Her Debut Documentary 'L'Homme Vertige,' and the Unvarnished Reality of ... - Yahoo Entertainment - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- See Royal Caribbean's newest giant cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas - Business Insider - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Preparing for Development of the Blue Economy in the U.S. Caribbean - NOAA Fisheries - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 16 February 2024 - Haiti - ReliefWeb - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Europe and Latin America & the Caribbean step up cooperation on cybersecurity - EEAS - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Confirms 9-Month Cruise Will Not Go Through Red Sea and Suez Canal Due to Middle East Unrest - PEOPLE - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Where is Death in Paradise set? The Caribbean island behind the BBC show - The Independent - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Trinidad and Tobago: overturned barge leaks oil into Caribbean Sea video report - The Guardian - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]