SpaceX has moved the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket, carrying 29 Starlink internet satellites, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to Saturday. The initial attempt for a Friday liftoff was postponed due to unspecified delays in preparation, with the rocket not yet positioned at Space Launch Complex 40.
The launch window is now set to open at 6 a.m. EDT (1000 UTC) on Saturday. Following liftoff, the Falcon 9 will embark on a north-easterly trajectory.
Weather conditions for Saturday morning’s launch window appear favorable, with forecasters predicting a 75 percent chance of acceptable conditions.
This mission will utilize Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1095, marking its sixth flight. The booster has previously supported five other Starlink deployment missions.
Approximately 8.5 minutes after launch, booster B1095 is expected to land on the autonomous drone ship ‘Just Read the Instructions,’ stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. A successful landing would be the 153rd recovery on this particular vessel and SpaceX’s 584th overall booster landing.
Meanwhile, SpaceX intends to proceed with another Starlink mission, Starlink 17-31, on Friday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. That launch is planned for 7:33 a.m. PDT (10:33 a.m. EDT / 1433 UTC).
