SpaceX to launch 20 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Area Pressure Station – Spaceflight Now

Replace 6:42 p.m. EDT: SpaceX adjusted the T-0 liftoff time of the mission.

SpaceX is ready to conduct its second Falcon 9 launch of the day, following a deliberate missions for satellite tv for pc communications firm, SES, from Florida. SpaceX goals to launch one other batch of its Starlink satellites, which embrace one other 13 with direct to cell (DTC) capabilities.

Liftoff from Area Launch Complicated 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Area Pressure Base in California is ready for 8:40 p.m. PDT (11:40 p.m. EDT, 0340 UTC). It will mark the twentieth orbital launch from California in 2024 up to now.

Spaceflight Now could have stay protection starting about half-hour previous to liftoff.



The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, tail quantity B1082 within the SpaceX fleet,  shall be launching for a fifth time. It beforehand supported the launches of america Area Pressure-62 (USSF-62) mission and three Starlink flights.

Slightly greater than eight minutes after liftoff, B1082 is ready to land on the SpaceX droneship, ‘Of Course I Nonetheless Love You.’ If profitable, it’s going to make the 93rd booster touchdown on OCISLY and the 320th total booster touchdown.

Regardless of an unusually lengthy interval with out launches (between June 8 and June 18), SpaceX remains to be assured that it’s going to hit or exceed its orbital launch objectives this yr.

In an announcement on X (previously Twitter), Jon Edwards, SpaceX’s vp of Falcon Launch Automobiles, mentioned “We nonetheless have a great shot at 148. Actually, we could even attempt to do just a few extra this yr.”