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SpaceX Continues Starlink Launches
Today, a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink internet satellites is set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch is scheduled to occur within a four-hour window starting at 5:26 p.m. EDT (2126 GMT). Interested viewers can watch the event live on SpaceX’s official account on X, with coverage beginning approximately five minutes before the launch window opens.
If all proceeds as planned, the Falcon 9’s first stage will return to Earth roughly 8.5 minutes after liftoff, landing vertically on SpaceX’s “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. Remarkably, this will mark the 12th successful launch and landing for this specific booster, in accordance with a thorough SpaceX mission description. Noteworthy is the fact that this achievement stands eight launches shy of the company’s impressive reuse record, established on a recent Starlink mission.
Following this, the Falcon 9’s upper stage will continue its journey, transporting the 23 Starlink satellites towards low Earth orbit (LEO). Approximately 65 minutes post-launch, these satellites will be deployed, contributing to the growing Starlink network.
Expanding Starlink Constellation
Tonight’s launch signifies SpaceX’s 39th orbital mission of the year and the 26th mission specifically dedicated to bolstering the Starlink constellation in 2024. The current Starlink network comprises over 5,700 operational satellites, with plans for continued expansion in the foreseeable future. Notably, SpaceX has been granted authorization to deploy up to 12,000 Starlink satellites in LEO, with an additional application seeking approval for an additional 30,000 units.
With consistent launches and advancements, SpaceX continues to expand and enhance its Starlink internet satellite network, bringing internet connectivity to underserved and remote areas around the globe.
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