Update: SpaceX crews are now focused on launching 22 Starlink Falcon 9 satellites into low Earth orbit on Tuesday, September 19 at 10:47 PM EDT. Four backup opportunities are available between 11:38 PM and 1:46 AM EDT Wednesday, September 20, if needed.
Original story: SpaceX will target its next Starlink Internet satellite mission for launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during a window that runs from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning.
Although SpaceX has not yet confirmed the mission, navigational warnings indicate that the Falcon 9 is scheduled to depart from Launch Complex 40 during a 4½-hour launch window scheduled from 9:47 p.m. to 2:18 a.m. EDT Wednesday.
The Space Force’s 45th Meteorological Squadron has set the probability that conditions will “go” to 60% for a possible launch.
“The most likely weather disturbance to occur during the primary launch opportunity is cumulus clouds associated with showers moving over land,” the squadron’s forecast said.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service station in Melbourne expect a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday night at Space Force Station, with a low around 74, mostly cloudy skies and east-northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
The company’s next batch of Internet satellites is packed into the rocket’s protective nose cone for the Starlink 6-17 mission. After launch, the 230-foot rocket will follow a southeast trajectory along Florida’s Atlantic coast before targeting the first stage of a booster landing aboard a drone ship near the Bahamas.
If plans go ahead, this year will be the 50th launch of the Space Coast.
What is SpaceX’s Starlink constellation?
SpaceX’s Starlink constellation operates about 340 miles above Earth, providing near-global Internet service to hard-to-reach destinations and customers on every continent.
To date, the company has launched more than 5,000 flat satellites into orbit since it first launched special missions in 2019.
When SpaceX’s Starlink 6-17 mission takes off, watch FLORIDA TODAY’s space team live coverage starting 90 minutes before launch. For the latest schedule updates, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog reporter for FLORIDA TODAY (click here for more of his stories.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
Opening on Tuesday 19 September
- Company / Agency: SpaceX internal mission.
- Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9.
- Location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Launch window: 9:47 p.m. EDT. Tuesday through Wednesday 2:18 a.m. EDT.
- Trajectory: Southeast.
- Weather: 60% chance of “go” conditions.
- Landing: Drone ship — A Shortfall of Gravitas.
- Live Streaming: Starts 90 minutes before launch at floridatoday.com/space.
- O: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the company’s latest batch of Starlink Internet satellites from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
