October 5th update: SpaceX now launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base Today (October 5) 7:10 PM EDT (4:48 PM PDT/2348 GMT) belatedly Allow NASA’s Crew 5 astronaut company launch earlier in the day.
SpaceX will launch 52 Starlink Internet satellites into orbit tonight (October 4). You can watch the launch live.
of star link The satellite is scheduled to be launched above falcon 9 Rockets from Vandenberg Space Force Station in California Tonight, October 5th at 7:10 PM EDT (2310 GMT; 4:10 PM PDT)You can watch it live here at Space.com. space xAlso directly through the company (opens in new tab).
If all goes according to plan, the first stage of Falcon 9 will return to Earth and make a precise landing 8.5 minutes after launch on the SpaceX drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX said the launch was delayed by 24 hours to allow more time for rocket checks before launch.
Related: SpaceX’s Starlink megaconstellation launches in photos
It will be the fifth takeoff and landing for this particular booster. According to the SpaceX mission description (opens in new tab)The rocket previously helped launch the US National Reconnaissance Service’s NROL-85 and NROL-87 missions, the German government’s Sala-1 radar satellite, and another Starlink batch.
While the Falcon 9 first stage lands tonight, the upper stage will continue to power into orbit. The 52 Starlink satellites will be deployed approximately 62 minutes after launch.
Starlink is SpaceX’s growing mega-constellation that provides internet services to customers around the world. SpaceX has launched about 3,400 of his Starlink satellites to date, with more planned to orbit. The company has obtained permits to launch 12,000 of his spacecraft, and he has applied for permits for up to 30,000 more.
Tonight’s launch will mark SpaceX’s 44th orbital mission in 2022. Elon Musk’s company crew 5 astronaut mission NASA will be transmitting on Wednesday (October 5) and two commercial communications satellites on Thursday (October 6).
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