SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
by Will Robinson-SmithUpdated: SpaceX confirmed deployment of the Starlink satellites.
SpaceX launched another batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station as the Sun rose over Florida’s Space Coast.
The Starlink 6-68 mission added 24 more Starlink V2 Mini satellites to the rapidly expanding satellite internet constellation in low Earth orbit. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was set for 5:45 a.m. EST (1045 UTC), but SpaceX didn’t begin fueling its Falcon 9 rocket in support of that launch time. Instead, liftoff happened at 8:21 a.m. EST (1321 UTC).
Coming into this launch opportunity, the 45th Weather Squadron said there should be an 85 percent chance of favorable weather at liftoff. Meteorologists are tracking cumulus clouds and thick clouds as potential watch items.
“A front will approach the Spaceport from the north on Thursday, with conditions trending drier and only a small possibility of an isolated shower Thursday morning,” launch weather officers wrote. “High pressure across the Northeast and the approaching front will create breezy conditions Thursday, with gusts around 20 mph possible. Additionally, a layer of mid-level clouds may linger across the area Thursday morning.”
The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, tail number B1076 in the SpaceX fleet, launched for an 18th time. It’s previous flights included Ovzon-3, Intelsat 40e, CRS-26 and nine Starlink satellites.
Less than eight minutes after liftoff, B1076 landed on the SpaceX droneship, ‘Just Read the Instructions.’ This marked the 97th booster landing on JRTI and the 368th booster landing to date.