SpaceX is scheduled to launch its Starlink 6-17 mission, which aims to deploy 22 additional Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The launch is set to take place on Tuesday, September 19 at 10:47 p.m. EDT, with backup opportunities available until early morning on Wednesday, September 20.

The satellites will be packed inside the payload fairing of the Falcon 9 rocket, which stands at 230 feet tall. After liftoff from Launch Complex 40, the first-stage booster will attempt a drone ship landing in the sea approximately eight minutes later.

The weather conditions for the launch are uncertain, with a 60% chance of “go” conditions according to the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron. The main concern is the presence of cumulus clouds associated with onshore-moving showers. The National Weather Service in Melbourne also forecasts a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with mostly cloudy skies and an east-northeast wind of 5 to 10 mph.

If the launch proceeds as planned, it will be the 50th launch of the year from the Space Coast. This mission does not involve any local sonic booms. The Falcon 9 booster, measuring 130 feet in height, will aim for a successful landing on a drone ship.

This particular Falcon 9 booster has been used for 17 previous missions. As for future launches, SpaceX has not yet announced the target date for the next Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX’s Starlink project aims to create a satellite constellation that provides global broadband internet coverage. The deployment of additional satellites is a crucial step toward achieving this goal. Stay tuned for more updates on the launch as it unfolds.