CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Citing poor weather conditions for the third time in three days, SpaceX announced that the launch of an Italian satellite would be postponed again.

The delay was announced Saturday followed postponements Thursday and Friday because of cloudy and windy conditions.

What You Need To Know

  • A SpaceX launch originally scheduled for Thursday evening is now set for Sunday

  • Saturday's delay marked the third and was attributed to weather conditions

  • Sunday's launch window opens at 6:11 p.m. EST

  • Get more space coverage here

The Italian Space Agency’s COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite is now scheduled to hitch a ride on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at 6:11 p.m. EST Sunday.

It is the second of four planned installments to upgrade the Italian Space Agency’s space-based radar and satellite imaging system.

“The launch of the second satellite of the new generation will allow Italy to have an even more advanced and unique system for Earth Observation in the world,” stated the Italian Space Agency in a press release.

Officially called the Constellation of small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation, it is the first Earth observation mission that is intended for dual-use, civilian and military, the agency explained.

While observing Earth from space, the Italian satellites will monitor and watch out for weather conditions, help predict floods and coordinate relief efforts in case of disasters like fires or earthquakes, stated the Italian Space Agency in a separate release.

A separate launch of Starlink satellites that had been scheduled for Sunday is now postponed until  Monday, SpaceX announced in a tweet.