SpaceX aims for launch before sunset from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX aims for launch before sunset from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX looks to send up its next batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday evening.

A Falcon 9 carrying 22 of the broadband satellites has its first target window about 45 minutes before sunset at 7:34 p.m. from Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40 with three backup options between 9:15-10:56 p.m. Further launch opportunities fall on Sunday from 7:09-10:31 p.m.

Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron predicts only a 40% chance for good conditions for the first launch window, but that improves to 85% by the end of the launch window Saturday. Sunday conditions are similar with 30% chance for good conditions that improve to 80% across the window.

The first-stage booster for the mission is making its sixth flight and will attempt a recovery landing downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic.

It would be the 36th orbital launch from the Space Coast in 2023, with all but two coming from SpaceX.

Including its California missions, this will be SpaceX’s 49th orbital launch among its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets for the year.

Of those, this would be the 26th dedicated to Starlink this year, and 96th since the growing constellation’s first operational deployment in 2019, according to statistics tracked by astronomer Jonathan McDowell. To date, the company has already launched more than 4,800 satellites with an approval from the Federal Communications Commission to up that to 7,500.

Most of those are a smaller version of the satellite that SpaceX was able to send up in batches of more than 50 at a time. The latest versions are larger, so will only go up in batches of 22. An even larger version is planned for when SpaceX gets its in-development Starship and Super Heavy rocket operational.

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