CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Update, Thursday: SpaceX is now targeting 5:21 a.m. Saturday, June 13, for this launch. The story below has been updated to reflect the new launch window.
Weather conditions around Cape Canaveral Air Force Station should be favorable for this week’s launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with yet another batch of Starlink internet satellites, the Space Force said Tuesday, News 6 partner Florida Today reports.
If teams hold to the Saturday launch time slated between 5:30 and 5:45 a.m., the weather at Launch Complex 40 should be about 80% “go” for the attempt.
"A frontal boundary is expected to sag into the state late Friday into Saturday, along with a boost in moisture from the tropics," the 45th Weather Squadron said Thursday. "These two features will bring increasing clouds along with more Atlantic showers. However, overall conditions still remain favorable."
Saturday’s flight will mark the ninth mission – and 540 satellites – for Starlink, the company’s effort to deliver broadband internet service from low-Earth orbit. Though SpaceX plans to have thousands of the spacecraft flying above to provide even worldwide coverage, CEO Elon Musk previously said North American services can start with far fewer. Packages for military, remote, and underserved customers could be offered as soon as late this year.
Though teams just launched a Starlink mission from the same pad last week, SpaceX will need to continue maintaining a swift cadence to reach its mega-constellation goals. At least one more Starlink launch is planned for late June, followed by several this summer.
Launch Saturday
- Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9
- Mission: 60 Starlink satellites
- Launch Time: 5:21 a.m.
- Launch Complex: 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
- Landing: Drone ship