Friday night rocket launch: SpaceX Starlink to lift off from Cape Canaveral Florida

SpaceX is targeting Friday evening for the launch of another batch of Starlink satellites, according to Geospatial and FAA navigational warnings.

SpaceX has confirmed they are targeting a liftoff time of 8:32 p.m. as of Thursday evening. Should SpaceX not be able to launch at that time, backup opportunities exist until 11:30 p.m..

The Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) and follow a southeast trajectory.

After roughly eight and a half minutes into flight, the Falcon 9 will land on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. The booster will be flying its 21st flight, and is most remembered for the Inspiration4 mission, which was the first all civilian mission to orbit, as well as the Axiom-1 mission.

This will be the latest launch of SpaceX's internet satellites, which deliver internet to some of the most remote locations on Earth, including out at sea. According to Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, SpaceX currently has 5,941 functioning Starlink satellites in orbit. If Starlink 6-59 contains the typical Space Coast 23 satellite payload, it will bring SpaceX to 5,964 satellites delivering internet to customers.

Amazon Kuiper Constellation launching soon

Recently, FLORIDA TODAY reported on the progress of Amazon's satellite internet constellation: Project Kuiper. During a May National Space Club Luncheon in Cape Canaveral, Brian Huseman, vice president of public policy at Amazon, spoke on the company's plans to begin launching as soon as later this year.

With over 80 launches already secured, the mega-company, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, aims to have half of the constellation in orbit by July of 2026. While Jeff Bezos may no longer be the CEO of Amazon, his rocket company, Blue Origin, is contracted to launch these satellites on its New Glenn rocket from Florida.

It's not solely Blue Origin, as Amazon has enlisted ULA, Arianespace, and even SpaceX to launch their Kuiper satellites.

Amazon's goal, much like SpaceX, is to deliver fast and affordable internet to underserved areas on Earth.

Quelle: Florida Today

----

Update: 18.05.2024

STARLINK MISSION

On Friday, May 17 at 8:32 p.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

This was the 21st flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8, and now 14 Starlink missions.