SpaceX is set to launch another batch of its Starlink internet satellites into orbit today, July 7th, and the event will be broadcasted live for viewers to witness. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 48 Starlink spacecraft is scheduled to lift off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 3:29 p.m. EDT. The launch can be watched on Space.com or directly through SpaceX’s feed, with coverage beginning five minutes before liftoff.
This launch is significant as it marks the 12th launch and landing for the Falcon 9’s first stage. If all goes according to plan, the first stage of the rocket will return to Earth and land vertically on the droneship named “Of Course I Still Love You,” positioned in the Pacific Ocean. This milestone is expected to occur approximately eight minutes and 50 seconds after liftoff.
The second stage of the Falcon 9 will continue its journey, delivering the Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO). Deployment of all the satellites is scheduled to take place about 19 minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX has been steadily adding to its Starlink satellite constellation. Currently, the company has launched nearly 4,700 Starlink satellites, with 4,365 operational ones, according to astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell. However, this launch is just one of many more to come. SpaceX has received approval to deploy approximately 12,000 internet satellites in LEO, and they have also applied for permission for an additional 30,000 satellites.
The growing number of Starlink satellites has raised concerns among astronomers, who believe that the large number of satellites obstructs their observations and interferes with their work. Additionally, experts have highlighted concerns about long-term space sustainability, as the ever-expanding network of satellites poses a potential threat. Recently, Starlink satellites had to perform 25,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers within a six-month period, and this number is expected to increase as more satellites are launched.
As SpaceX continues to deploy its Starlink satellites, the company faces both praise for its efforts to provide global internet access and criticism for the potential impact on scientific research and the environment. The live broadcast of today’s launch allows people worldwide to witness another step in the ongoing development of SpaceX’s ambitious satellite network.