By SpaceX is all set for an exciting launch early Tuesday, September 12, where they will deploy another batch of Starlink internet satellites. You can catch the action live!
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 2:57 a.m. EDT (0657 GMT; 11:57 p.m. local California time on September 11). The remarkable part? The Falcon 9’s first stage will attempt a daring landing on the SpaceX droneship, “Of Course, I Still Love You,” in the Pacific Ocean just 8.5 minutes after launch. This will mark its 11th successful launch and landing, according to SpaceX’s mission description.
Approximately 62 minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9’s upper stage will release the Starlink satellites into orbit. This launch is the 64th of 2023 for SpaceX, surpassing its own record of 61 launches from the previous year. SpaceX has been leading the world in space missions this year, with most of them dedicated to expanding its Starlink mega constellation.
As of now, there are already over 4,600 operational Starlink satellites in orbit, with plans to eventually increase this number to as many as 42,000. SpaceX has also identified several backup launch windows starting on Tuesday, September 12, from 12:48 a.m. to 3:20 a.m., along with five additional backup windows on Wednesday, September 13, from 12:26 a.m. to 3:49 a.m.
Notably, this Falcon 9 rocket has previously supported missions such as NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, and five Starlink missions. The launch is currently scheduled for 11:57 p.m. on Monday, but please note that visibility may be limited due to cloud cover in the region. The first-stage booster will make a daring landing on a barge off the coast of Baja California.”
