SpaceX crews are gearing up for Brevard County’s fourth orbital rocket launch of the year, scheduled for Saturday night. Although SpaceX has not officially announced the mission, navigational warnings from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and U.S. Coast Guard indicate that a launch is in the works. This particular mission will involve the deployment of a new batch of Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The launch window is set to open at 7:52 p.m. on Saturday and will remain open for 4½ hours until 12:23 a.m. on Sunday. Taking off from Launch Complex 40, the rocket will follow a southeast trajectory. Unlike some launches, this one is not expected to generate a sonic boom.
After liftoff, the booster will attempt to land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. For those interested in witnessing the event, live coverage will begin 90 minutes before liftoff on floridatoday.com/space. However, there is a 20% chance of showers, and skies are expected to be mostly cloudy on launch day, according to the weather forecast.
This launch marks the first one to take place at Cape Canaveral since the recent SpaceX-United Launch Alliance doubleheader last weekend. The doubleheader featured a Falcon 9 Starlink mission followed by the inaugural launch of ULA’s new Vulcan rocket. Unfortunately, the Vulcan rocket encountered a propellant leak, and it is reported that the Peregrine lunar lander carried by the rocket is now traveling away from Earth with limited fuel supply.
To stay updated on launch schedules and any changes, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule. SpaceX enthusiasts and the general public alike are eagerly awaiting the next launch, hoping for a successful mission and the expansion of the Starlink internet satellite network.
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