News

SpaceX is preparing for another launch of its Starlink internet service, with plans to send 23 satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral. This will be the second Falcon 9 launch of the day for SpaceX, following a successful launch earlier from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The total number of Starlink satellites in orbit will reach 4,989 after this launch, with the potential to exceed 5,000 by the end of the day.

The Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral is scheduled for 8:17 p.m. EDT (0017 UTC). Weather forecasts indicate an 85-percent chance of favorable conditions, with the main concerns being liftoff wind limits and lightning-triggering cumulus clouds. There is also a low to moderate risk of poor weather in the booster recovery area near the Bahamas. If necessary, SpaceX has five backup launch opportunities available.

The first-stage booster, which has flown seven previous missions, will attempt another landing on the drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love you’ approximately eight and a half minutes after liftoff. The deployment of the 23 Starlink satellites into orbit is scheduled to occur about an hour and five minutes after launch.

This launch marks SpaceX’s 90th orbital mission in the last year, highlighting their frequency of launches. The company aims to increase the pace even further, with a goal of reaching 100 flights in 2023 and a total of 144 flights in 2024.

Sources:
– Jonathan McDowell’s statistics on Starlink satellites.
– Forecast by the 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral.

The post SpaceX Set to Launch 23 More Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral appeared first on Fagen Wasanni Technologies.