SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on Thursday, April 24 launched 28 of Starlink’s Group 6-74 Starlink smallsats to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The satellites will become a part of the Starlink constellation. Photos by Satnews.
The forecast was 76°F, scattered clouds, 40% cloud cover and a wind speed of 12mph.
The Falcon 9 1st stage B1069 landed on ASDS ASOG barge in the Atlantic Ocean after its 23rd flight. Booster B1069 last launched 03/13/2025 and has seen 22 successful launches and landings. Falcon 9 Block 5 booster first used for the CRS-24 mission.
SpaceX to launch Starlink Group 6-74 smallsats on Thursday
SpaceX is targeting Thursday, April 24 for a Falcon 9 launch of 28 Starlink smallsats to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Launch is targeted for 9:52 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 1:28 a.m. ET on Friday, April 25. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Friday, April 25 starting at 9:55 p.m. ET.
The smallsats will be launched into the largest shell of its Starlink constellation.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.
This is the 23rd flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched CRS-24, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, OneWeb 1, SES-18 and SES-19, and 18 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.