Title: SpaceX Aims to Break Annual Launch Record with Falcon 9 Starlink 6-22 Mission
Subtitle: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station witnesses unprecedented growth in space launches
By Rick Neale
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL – SpaceX is set to embark on its Falcon 9 Starlink 6-22 mission, aiming to break the annual launch record at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission, scheduled for 10:17 p.m. EDT Saturday, marks an important milestone in the continuing growth of the Space Coast.
The launch will see a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites into orbit from the historic launchpad in Florida. Following the launch, the first stage booster is expected to make a successful landing.
Last year, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center witnessed an impressive 84% increase in rocket launches, totaling 57 missions. The upcoming launch, if successful, will mark the 58th launch this year, surpassing the previous annual record set in 2021.
According to Don Platt, the director of Florida Institute of Technology’s Spaceport Graduate Center, this significant growth in launches signifies a “very different beast” compared to previous years. Platt, who has been associated with the Spaceport site since 1998, highlights the massive scale of the transformation.
The National Weather Service predicts mostly clear skies with favorable weather conditions for the Falcon 9 Starlink 6-22 mission. With a 95% chance of “go” weather, the launch is expected to proceed as scheduled.
SpaceX’s Starlink project aims to deploy a constellation of internet-beaming satellites in low-Earth orbit. The 6-24 mission will add to the growing network of satellites, enabling global broadband coverage.
The commencement of annual space events in 2023 already shows promising numbers, as indicated by Platt. He expects that future launches from Florida alone may outnumber the launches worldwide during the late 2000s.
SpaceX has been at the forefront of these advancements, accounting for 53 out of the 57 rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this year. The only exceptions were two launches on October 13th, featuring NASA’s Psyche spacecraft using a Falcon Heavy rocket and a Falcon 9 rocket launch by SpaceX.
As the Space Coast continues to witness a surge in launches, FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team will provide live coverage of the Falcon 9 Starlink 6-22 mission. Follow their coverage starting 90 minutes before liftoff.
About the author:
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. For more of his stories, visit floridatoday.com. Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RickNeale1 for updates.
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