UPDATE 5: On Friday, February 9 at 4:34 p.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
This was the 14th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and now eight Starlink missions.
SpaceX’s broadband constellation, Starlink, in low Earth orbit, totals nearly 5,400 operational spacecraft.
Falcon 9’s first stage came back to Earth about 8.5 minutes after lifting off for a landing on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
UPDATE 4: SpaceX Starlink launch aborted just before liftoff again and targeting a new date
UPDATE 4: SpaceX scrubbed Thursday night’s planned launch just before liftoff due to “excessive cloud cover” when attempting to launch the Starlink 7-13 mission Thursday evening. Earlier in the afternoon, SpaceX said the weather was only 20% favorable for launch creating weather challenges on the West Coast. SpaceX is targeting Friday, February 9 for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 4:34 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 8:32 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Saturday, February 10 starting at 4:12 p.m. PT.
A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.
This is the 14th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and seven Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
UPDATE 3: Another bump in time as SpaceX delays launch of 22 Starlink smallsats
UPDATE 3: SpaceX is now targeting Thursday, February 8 for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 4:56 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 8:54 p.m. PT. This new date is after the scheduled Falcon 9 mission on Tuesday was bumped to Wednesday. Both delays are due to unfavorable weather conditions, according to officials.
A live webcast of this mission will beg
in on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.
This is the 14th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and seven Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
UPDATE 2: It’s a stand down at final minute as SpaceX scrubs Starlink smallsats launch
UPDATE 2: SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, February 7 for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 5:17 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 8:54 p.m. PT.
Tuesday the launch teams for the Starlink 7-13 mission got down to the final minute of the countdown before calling a scrub with poor weather conditions.
A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.
This is the 14th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and seven Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX schedules Tuesday for Starlink smallsats launch
SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, February 6 for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 9:01 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 9:38 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Wednesday, February 7 starting at 5:17 p.m. PT.
A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.
This is the 14th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and seven Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocea