SpaceX aims to launch another batch of Starlink satellites Friday evening, according to geospatial and FAA navigational warnings.
As of Thursday evening, SpaceX has confirmed that it is targeting a liftoff time of 8:32 p.m. If SpaceX is unable to launch at that time, backup options are available until 11:30 p.m.
The Falcon 9 rocket will launch from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) on a southeast trajectory.
About eight and a half minutes later, Falcon 9 will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The booster will fly on its 21st flight, and is best remembered for the Inspiration4 mission, the first all-civilian mission to orbit, and the Axiom-1 mission.
When is the next Florida rocket launch?Is there a launch today? Schedule of upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launches in Florida
How many SpaceX Starlink satellites are in orbit?
It will be the latest launch of SpaceX’s Internet satellites, which will bring Internet to some of the most remote places on Earth, including the ocean. SpaceX currently has 5,941 Starlink satellites in orbit, according to Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. If Starlink 6-59 has a typical Space Coast 23 satellite payload, it will bring SpaceX to 5,964 satellites providing internet to customers.
Amazon Khyber Constellation will launch soon
Recently, Florida Today reported on the progress of Amazon’s satellite Internet package: Project Kuiper. During a May National Space Club luncheon in Cape Canaveral, Brian Hussman, Amazon’s vice president of public policy, talked about the company’s plans to launch later this year.
With more than 80 launches already secured, the mega-company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos aims to put half of the galaxy into orbit by July 2026. While Jeff Bezos may no longer be CEO of Amazon, his rocket company, Blue Origin, is contracted to launch these satellites on its New Glen rocket from Florida.
It’s not all out of the blue, as Amazon has enlisted ULA, Arianespace and SpaceX to launch their Kuiper satellites.
Amazon’s goal, like SpaceX, is to bring fast and cheap internet to underserved areas on Earth.
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Brooke Edwards is a space reporter for Florida Today. Contact her [email protected] or in X: @brookofstars.
