Sunset SpaceX launch adds 29 more Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit
by Will Robinson-SmithUpdate Dec. 2, 6:36 p.m. EST (2336 UTC): SpaceX confirmed deployment of the Starlink satellites.
SpaceX completed its third Falcon 9 launch in less than two days. The latest was late afternoon flight from its workhorse pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Tuesday.
The Starlink 6-95 mission was SpaceX’s 295th orbital launch from Space Launch Complex 40 and the 350th overall orbital launch from the site.
Liftoff happened at 5:18 p.m. EST (2218 UTC) with the rocket flying on a south-easterly trajectory upon departure from Florida’s Space Coast.
The 45th Weather Squadron forecast a 70 percent chance for favorable weather at the opening of the window, which improves to 80 percent as the window goes on. Meteorologists cited concerns with potential interference from a cold front moving in.
“Showers and possibly an isolated thunderstorm may develop ahead of the front, with improving conditions behind the front. Breezy winds are expected in stronger storms, with gusts near 30 mph possible,” launch weather officers wrote. “Weather conditions currently look worse at the beginning of the primary launch window, then improve towards the end of the window as the front shifts south of the area.”
SpaceX launched the mission using the Falcon 9 booster with the tail number 1077. This was its 25th trip to space and back following such missions as Crew-5, GPS III SV06 and CRS-28.
About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1077 landed on the drone ship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’ This was the 135th landing on this vessel and the 543rd booster landing to date.