Update, 6:55 p.m. EDT: SpaceX simply announced (opens in new tab) one other delay for his or her beleaguered Starlink mission that has now missed five launch alternatives in a row. The firm is now aiming for Sunday (Sept. 18) at 8:18 p.m. EDT (0043 GMT Monday, Sept. 19). The webcast normally begins about quarter-hour earlier than launch.
SpaceX plans to launch one other massive batch of its Starlink satellites to orbit Sunday night time (Sept. 18), and you’ll watch the motion dwell.
SpaceX plans to loft 54 extra Starlink broadband satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida Sunday at 8:18 p.m. EDT (0018 GMT on Sept. 19). You can watch right here at Space.com, or immediately by way of SpaceX (opens in new tab). The launch has been delayed five consecutive instances due to dangerous climate.
The flight plan requires a Falcon 9 rocket to carry the Starlink Group 4-34 satellites into house, and for the primary stage of the rocket to land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship within the Atlantic Ocean about 9 minutes later. It would be the sixth launch and touchdown for this explicit booster, SpaceX wrote in a mission description (opens in new tab).
Related: SpaceX’s Starlink megaconstellation launches in images
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Starlink is SpaceX’s broadband constellation of satellites. The firm has lofted greater than 3,200 of the satellites into orbit up to now. SpaceX is quickly increasing the constellation, with launches taking place just about each week — and generally extra usually than that.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk just lately stated he hopes to launch up to 100 SpaceX missions in 2023. The purpose is, partly, to ramp up Starlink service as quick as doable for the distant clients that the corporate needs to serve.
SpaceX already has regulatory approval to launch 12,000 Starlink satellites. The firm has additionally utilized to a global regulator to ship one other 30,000 of the satellites into orbit.
The firm can be increasing the sorts of clients which are accessing Starlink providers.
SpaceX just lately introduced a collaboration with T-Mobile to beam broadband service immediately to cell telephones. Additionally, SpaceX signed with Royal Caribbean to provide Starlink on cruise ships, to enhance Internet service at sea.
Editor’s word: This story was up to date at 9:45 p.m. ET on Sept. 13 with the brand new launch date of Sept. 14. SpaceX had deliberate to launch the mission on Sept. 13 however scrubbed the try due to climate. It was up to date once more at 8:50 p.m. ET on Sept. 14 with the brand new launch date of Sept. 15. Bad climate scrubbed deliberate makes an attempt on Sept. 14, Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. Sept. 14 try as properly. It was up to date once more on Sept. 15, after dangerous climate pressured one other scrub. This story was additionally up to date at 8:13 p.m. EDT on Sept. 16 to mirror a brand new launch time, and at 9:15 p.m. EDT Sept. 16 relating to the scrub. This story was up to date once more at 6:55 p.m. EDT Sept. 17 with a scrub and new launch alternative.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace (opens in new tab). Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or Facebook (opens in new tab).
