Cape Canaveral, Florida – SpaceX is gearing up for the launch of 22 Starlink broadband satellites from the iconic Space Coast on Friday, following multiple delays due to unfavorable weather conditions. The Falcon 9 rocket is set to carry the satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during a narrow window that opens at 5:07 p.m. EDT. Viewers can tune into SpaceX’s live stream account to catch the action as it unfolds.
Originally planned for Wednesday and then Thursday, the launch was rescheduled for Friday in hopes of clearer skies. If weather does not cooperate on Friday, the company has a backup date set for Saturday. The mission marks the 16th launch and landing for this particular Falcon 9 booster, with a successful landing expected on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.
Of the previous 15 flights, ten have been dedicated to Starlink missions, while the others have included various commercial flights for satellites and cargo missions. The upper stage of the Falcon 9 will release the Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit approximately 53 minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX has been on a steady launch schedule in 2024, with 60 missions completed thus far, averaging a liftoff every 2.7 days. A significant portion of these missions has been focused on expanding the Starlink megaconstellation, which currently consists of nearly 6,100 operational spacecraft.
The launch has been rescheduled from an initial target date, with the new time now set for 5:07 p.m. EDT on the 14th of June. SpaceX enthusiasts and space enthusiasts alike are eagerly anticipating the successful deployment of the Starlink satellites as part of SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to revolutionize global internet accessibility from space.