SpaceX to launch Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
SpaceX is preparing for its landmark 90th orbital launch in 2023 with the upcoming Starlink 6-33 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 rocket supporting the mission is set to launch at 12:07 p.m. EST from the Florida launch site.
The mission aims to deploy 23 satellites, bringing SpaceX’s total number of satellites launched in 2023 to 1,871. The first stage booster being used for the launch, tail number 1077, is set to make its ninth flight. Notable previous launches of the booster include Crew-5 and GPS 3 Space Vehicle 06.
Although liftoff weather conditions are favorable, meteorologists are keeping an eye on liftoff winds, which are the only concern in the current forecast. The mission is expected to mark the third fastest turnaround for SpaceX’s Space Launch Complex 40.
According to an infographic from analytics firm BryceTech, SpaceX is on track to launch over 80 percent of all Earth payload to orbit this year. The company accounted for 26 out of the 63 orbital launches globally in Q3, launching significantly more to space than the rest of the world combined.
Meanwhile, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, preparation is underway for the upcoming Falcon Heavy launch supporting the USSF-52 mission, which is targeting December 10. The mission will integrate the X-37B spaceplane onto the rocket for liftoff from Launch Complex 39A.
Spaceflight Now will have live coverage of the Starlink 6-33 mission starting an hour before liftoff on YouTube. SpaceX founder Elon Musk highlighted the company’s achievements in a quote from BryceTech, emphasizing the company’s dominance in spacecraft upmass to orbit, with SpaceX leading the pack in Q3 with 381,278 kg launched.