SpaceX is gearing up for an exciting launch tonight, as it prepares to send 28 more Starlink satellites into orbit. This mission will see the Falcon 9 booster making a historic 28th flight, showcasing SpaceX's commitment to advancing satellite internet connectivity. Liftoff is scheduled for 1:03 a.m. EDT (0503 UTC) from the iconic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
This launch marks the 100th launch of a single-stick Falcon 9 rocket from this particular pad, underscoring the importance of LC-39A in SpaceX's operational history. The Falcon 9 booster, designated B1067, has been instrumental in numerous missions, and its record-breaking flight adds to SpaceX's growing legacy in the aerospace industry.
For space enthusiasts and followers of SpaceX launches, Spaceflight Now will provide live coverage starting about an hour before the scheduled liftoff. This offers fans a chance to witness this momentous occasion in real-time.
The 45th Weather Squadron has predicted a 50% chance of favorable weather for the launch window. However, meteorologists have expressed concerns regarding potential cloud cover due to storms anticipated to develop by Sunday afternoon and evening. “Hi-res models suggest that while the bulk of convection will have waned around the Spaceport by the window opening late Sunday night, there is a higher probability of lingering showers and storms through the window due to the proximity of the upper-level system and breezy onshore flow,” noted the launch weather officers.
As the countdown continues, the Cumulus Cloud threat presents an additional challenge. Persistent multilayered clouds, including Thick Cloud Layers and Anvil Clouds, are expected to move across the Spaceport, potentially impacting visibility.
Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, SpaceX plans to successfully land the B1067 booster on its drone ship, ‘Just Read the Instructions’, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, east of the Bahamas. If the mission proceeds as planned, this would mark the 120th successful landing for this particular drone ship and the 445th booster landing overall for SpaceX. This achievement further solidifies SpaceX's reputation for reliable and reusable rocket technology.
Stay tuned for updates as we approach liftoff and celebrate another milestone in the journey toward global internet coverage with Starlink.
