SpaceX about to set new bar with record 62nd launch of the year
SpaceX equaled the number of launches it had in 2022 still with just under four months to go in the year with a launch from California on Saturday. It’s set to pass that record with what would be its 62nd orbital launch of the year on Sunday night from Kennedy Space Center.
A Falcon 9 rocket is targeting 7:25 p.m. for liftoff from KSC’s Launch Complex 39-A carrying another 21 of the company’s Starlink satellites to orbit.
Backup options on Sunday night include five opportunities from 8:15 p.m. to 11:04 p.m. as well as six options if delayed to Monday between 6:59 p.m. and 10:39 p.m.
Unlike recent challenging weather, Florida’s forecast looks to cooperate with Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron predicting a 90% chance for good conditions, and the same in event of 24-hour delay.
The first-stage booster on this mission is flying for the 10th time with the company aiming for another recovery landing downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.
It marks the 46th launch from the Space Coast with all but two coming from SpaceX. This launch marks the 10th from KSC for the year including three crewed missions and three launches of the powerhouse Falcon Heavy. It has knocked out another 34 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and another 18 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Elon Musk said at the beginning of the year that SpaceX could potentially hit 100 launches in 2023. It flew 26 missions in 2020, 31 in 2021 and 61 in 2022.
It’s on pace to hit about 90 for 2023 not including its attempt to launch the in-development Starship and Super Heavy from its Texas facility Starbase. The company’s first launch ended up with the rocket self-destructing over the Gulf of Mexico before reaching orbit. SpaceX is preparing for a second attempt, but is waiting on approval to launch from the Federal Aviation Administration.