Cape Canaveral, Florida – space x is currently set to launch on Friday and Saturday, reversing course with plans to launch on the same day. could make history Tightest turnaround between two launches.
space x announced The priority is to launch the O3b mPOWER mission Falcon 9 on Friday, with the goal of launching its own Starlink satellite on Saturday. Both launches were originally scheduled for Friday, but could be less than 35 minutes apart, making it the fastest turn between orbital launches from Florida’s Space Coast since November 11, 1966. We were able to set an around record.
Friday’s launch from Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station will loft two Internet communications satellites for its customer, Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES. The 87-minute liftoff window was set to open at 4:21 PM ET.
And on Saturday, at nearby Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39-A, a second Falcon 9 will send another batch of SpaceX’s own Internet beam Starlink satellites into orbit.
Both missions were expected to land first-stage Falcon 9 boosters on separate drone ships deployed in the Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff.
SpaceX did not respond to a request for this article from Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY network.
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The company’s shortest turnaround between launches is about 15 hours. That record goes back to December 2021.
SpaceX flew a Falcon 9 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on December 18 of that year to put a stack of Starlink satellites into orbit. Then 15 hours later, his second Falcon 9 from Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station launched the Turkish Turksat 5B mission.
Jamie Grow is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. You can reach her at JGroh@floridatoday.com.follow her Twitter @AlteredJamie.
First launch scheduled for Friday
- Company/Agency: SpaceX for SES.
- rocket: SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
- position: Pad 40 at Space Force Station Cape Canaveral.
- Launch time: 4:21 p.m. to 5:49 p.m.
- Trajectory: Northeast.
- weather: 90% “go”.
- landing: drone ship.
- live broadcast: Starts 90 minutes before takeoff floridatoday.com/space.
- almost: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches O3b mPower 1 and 2 satellites for Luxembourg satellite operator SES. Satellites are primarily designed to provide Internet connectivity.
Second launch scheduled for Friday
- Company/Agency: SpaceX Starlink internal mission.
- rocket: SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
- position: Pad39-A at Kennedy Space Center.
- Launch time: 4:54 p.m. to 5:13 p.m.
- Trajectory: Northeast.
- weather: 90% “go”.
- landing: drone ship.
- live broadcast: Starts 90 minutes before takeoff floridatoday.com/space
- almost: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches into orbit a batch of Starlink satellites that transmit the company’s Internet beam.
