SpaceX Starlink launch on Friday from Cape Canaveral
Update: Liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 with 22 Starlink satellites at 11:38 p.m. EDT Friday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, followed by a drone ship booster landing minutes later.
Welcome to our Space Team live coverage of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Starlink 6-16 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
After standing down from a first attempt Thursday night, SpaceX teams at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station are now on track to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink internet satellites at 11:38 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 40.
An additional launch opportunity for the Starlink 6-16 mission is set for 12:07 a.m. EDT. Saturday. Otherwise, two backup opportunities are available Saturday night, at 11:13 p.m. and 11:38 p.m. EDT.
11:46 p.m. EDT: The Falcon 9 first stage has landed aboard SpaceX’s Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its seventh mission.
11:38 p.m. EDT: SpaceX has launched a Falcon 9 with 22 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The drone ship landing of the first stage booster should be coming up in about eight minutes.
11:28 p.m. EDT: At T-minus 10 minutes in tonight’s SpaceX countdown, everything is continuing as planned toward liftoff.
11:07 p.m. EDT: SpaceX reports that “all systems are looking good” for liftoff and weather conditions are trending favorably for tonight’s launch. Propellant load is underway.
10:56 p.m. EDT: Here’s a rundown of SpaceX’s countdown timeline. T-minus:
- 38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies go for propellant load.
- 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene loading begins.
- 33 minutes: First-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
- 1 minute: Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.
- 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
- 00:00:00: Falcon 9 liftoff.
10:30 p.m. EDT: SpaceX reports that this marks the fifth flight for the first-stage booster supporting tonight’s mission. The booster previously logged launches with Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, and two Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, roughly 8½ minutes after liftoff, the first stage is slated to land on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Liftoff of the 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket is tentatively set for 11:38 p.m. EDT on Friday. Packed in Falcon 9’s payload fairing are 22 Starlink internet satellites.
If needed, an additional launch opportunity is available at 12:07 a.m. EDT. Saturday. Plus, two backup opportunities are available later Saturday, at 11:13 p.m. and 11:38 p.m. EDT.
After a jaunt along a southeastern trajectory, about eight minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9 first stage booster is set to target a drone ship landing out at sea.
Forecasters with the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron last reported a 45% chance of “go” conditions around the spaceport during the Friday night launch window. Recovery conditions for the drone ship landing were listed as…
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