SpaceX is set to launch another batch of Starlink satellites into orbit on Tuesday evening. The launch is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19 at 10:47 p.m. ET. The Falcon 9 rocket will carry 22 internet satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
In case of any issues, four backup opportunities are available between 11:38 p.m. ET and 1:46 a.m. ET on Tuesday, with five additional backup opportunities on Wednesday, September 20 starting at 10:22 p.m. ET.
This mission marks the 17th flight for the first stage booster, making it the first Falcon 9 booster to reach this milestone. The same booster has previously been used for various missions, including GPS III-3, Turksat 5A, Transporter-2, Intelsat G-33/G-34, Transporter-6, and 11 Starlink missions.
After stage separation, the first stage will undergo a controlled landing on the A Short Fall of Gravitas drone ship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
This upcoming launch is another significant step for SpaceX’s Starlink project, which aims to provide global broadband coverage by deploying thousands of satellites into orbit. With each successful launch, SpaceX moves closer to realizing its vision of delivering high-speed internet access to even the most remote corners of the world.