SpaceX will launch a new batch of its Starlink satellites into orbit on Thursday (Sept. 5) after a one-day delay due to weather and you’ll be able to watch it live online.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch 21 Starlink internet satellites to space from the company’s Space Launch Complex 40 pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX initially aimed to launch the Starlink 8-11 mission, as the company calls it, on Sept. 4, but delayed it by 24 hours due to “unfavorable booster recovery weather conditions in the Atlantic.”
Included among the new Starlink satellites are 13 units with “Direct to Cell” capabilities, SpaceX said in a mission description.
SpaceX’s Starlink 8-11 mission will fly on a veteran Falcon 9 first-stage booster that is making its 15th flight with Thursday’s launch.
Thursday’s launch will be the third Starlink mission in a week as SpaceX continues to build up its space-based megaconstellation to provide high-speed internet access around the globe.
The company launched two Starlink missions, each with 21 satellites, in just over an hour on Saturday (Aug. 31).
Like today’s flight, each of those earlier missions included 13 direct-to-cell satellites, which can provide internet service directly to mobile smartphones.
All three Starlink missions come less than a week after a failed Falcon 9 booster landing at sea on Aug. 28.
A Federal Aviation Administration investigation into that issue is ongoing, but SpaceX was cleared for launches while it is underway, FAA officials have said.
On Thursday, September 26, SpaceX will send a fresh batch of its Starlink satellites into orbit. You will be able to watch it live online on page five, following a one-day weather delay.
From the company’s Space Launch Complex 40 pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch 21 Starlink internet satellites into space. The planned takeoff time is 8:35 a.m. me. EDT (1235 GMT). Starting roughly five minutes prior to liftoff, you can watch it live on SpaceX’s X account (formerly Twitter).
SpaceX originally planned to launch the Starlink 8-11 mission on September 11th. Due to “unfavorable booster recovery weather conditions in the Atlantic,” 4, it was postponed by a full day. As mentioned in a mission description, SpaceX stated that 13 of the new Starlink satellites have “Direct to Cell” capabilities. The backup launch window for the company is at 12:31 p.m. M. EDT (1631 GMT) on Thursday.
Launched on Thursday, a veteran Falcon 9 first-stage booster will be used for SpaceX’s Starlink 8-11 mission, marking its 15th flight. After taking off, the booster is predicted to return to Earth in less than eight minutes, landing close to SpaceX’s drone ship Just Read The Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.
Eight Starlink missions, NASA’s Crew-5 astronaut flight in March 2023, a Northrop Grumman NG-20 Cygnus cargo mission, a NASA Dragon supply flight, two commercial satellite missions, and one Space Force GPS III flight were all previously launched by the Falcon 9 rocket.
In an effort to expand its space-based megaconstellation and offer high-speed internet access worldwide, SpaceX is launching its third Starlink mission in as many weeks on Thursday. In a little more than an hour on Saturday, August 21, the company launched two Starlink missions, each with 21 satellites. (31). Similar to the current flight, all of the previous missions comprised thirteen direct-to-cell satellites, which enable direct internet access to mobile smartphones.
Less than a week has passed since the August failure of a Falcon 9 booster to land at sea. 28. Although the Federal Aviation Administration is still looking into the matter, FAA officials have stated that SpaceX is authorized to launch during that time.
