SpaceX Sets New Launch Date for Starlink Internet Satellites
SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, has announced that the launch of another batch of Starlink internet satellites has been rescheduled for Saturday night. Originally set for Thursday, the launch was postponed due to unspecified reasons.
The Falcon 9 rocket will carry 22 Starlink spacecraft and is slated to take off on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. EDT. The launch can be viewed live on SpaceX’s account on X, with coverage beginning before liftoff.
If successful, the Falcon 9’s first stage will land on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean. This particular booster has seen 14 successful launches and landings prior to this mission.
Approximately 62 minutes after liftoff, the 22 Starlink satellites will be deployed. This launch will mark the 30th Falcon 9 flight of 2024 and the 20th dedicated to expanding the Starlink megaconstellation.
SpaceX has been actively deploying Starlink satellites, with 6,077 launched to date and 5,610 currently in operation. The company has received approval to deploy up to 12,000 Starlink craft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and has applied for permission to launch an additional 30,000 satellites.
The Starlink program aims to provide global high-speed internet coverage, especially in underserved and remote areas. With each successful launch, SpaceX moves closer to achieving this ambitious goal.
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