Cape Canaveral, Florida – SpaceX is set to launch the first of two Starlink missions within 48 hours from Cape Canaveral. The launch will take place at 7:39 p.m. EDT on Saturday from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. This will be followed by another Falcon 9 launch from nearby pad 40 on Monday. The 45th Weather Squadron has predicted a 75-percent chance of acceptable weather for Saturday’s launch, citing concerns for high winds and potential lightning risks.
Originally scheduled for Friday, the mission was delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions. SpaceX made the decision to postpone the launch as the rocket was being rolled out of the hangar at launch complex 39A. The Falcon 9 assigned to the Starlink 6-42 mission will make its 19th flight, setting a record. This booster has been on 12 previous Starlink delivery missions and most recently launched a commercial lunar lander in February.
After liftoff, the Falcon 9 first stage will land on the drone ship ‘Just Read the Instructions,’ marking another milestone in reusable rocket technology. The mission will deploy 23 second-generation Starlink satellites into orbit approximately one hour and five minutes after launch. Following this launch, another set of Starlink satellites is scheduled to be launched from Cape Canaveral on Monday, with even more planned later in the week from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
SpaceX revealed that they have over 2.3 million subscribers in more than 70 countries for their Starlink internet service. Since 2019, the company has successfully launched a significant number of satellites into orbit, with a majority of them reportedly functioning as intended. This push for satellite internet services represents a growing trend in the space industry, with companies like SpaceX leading the way in providing global connectivity.