CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — SpaceX launched nearly 30 Starlink satellites on Monday night, which the California-based company had to adjust its launch time of the mission in accordance with FAA’s new order.
What You Need To Know
Starlink 6-87 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Because of the FAA’s new order, SpaceX adjusted its launch time for the Starlink 6-87 mission
The Falcon 9 rocket sent up the Starlink 6-87 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:21 p.m. ET on Monday, stated SpaceX.
The launch window opened at 10:01 p.m. ET and was set to close at 1:59 a.m., ET, Tuesday, Nov. 11. That means SpaceX had that time frame to launch the mission.
Originally, the launch was scheduled at 5:12 p.m. ET until 9:12 p.m. ET. However, the FAA announced that starting Monday, Nov. 10, all commercial launches must launch from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., citing safety and efficiency reasons.
Because of the FAA’s new order, SpaceX adjusted its launch time for the Starlink 6-87 mission.
The 45th Weather Squadron gave a 60% chance of good liftoff conditions, with the only concerns being liftoff winds.
Find out more about the weather criteria for a Falcon 9 launch.
Third time up
This is the third mission for the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster B1096.
After the stage separation, the first-stage rocket landed on the droneship Just Read the Instructions that will be in the Atlantic Ocean.
About the mission
The 29 satellites from the Starlink company, owned by SpaceX, will be heading to low-Earth orbit to join the thousands already there.
Once deployed and in their orbit, they will provide internet service to many parts of Earth.
Dr. Jonathan McDowell, of Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, has been recording Starlink satellites.
Before this launch, McDowell recorded the following:
8,917 are in orbit
7,559 are in operational orbit