SpaceX to Launch Another Batch of Starlink Satellites
SpaceX is gearing up for yet another launch of its Starlink internet satellites, with plans to send a batch of 22 spacecraft into orbit. The launch is scheduled to take place on tonight (Aug. 26) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Starlink satellites, is set to lift off at 9:05 p.m. EDT. With this launch, the total number of Starlink satellites in space will surpass 5,000, according to astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell.
Viewers can watch the live coverage of the liftoff on Space.com or directly through SpaceX’s website. The coverage is expected to start approximately five minutes before launch.
The Falcon 9’s first stage, if all goes according to plan, will return to Earth after approximately 8.5 minutes and is scheduled to land on the SpaceX drone ship named Just Read the Instructions. Notably, this will be the third launch and landing for this particular booster.
Meanwhile, the Falcon 9’s upper stage will continue its trajectory and deploy the 22 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) about 65 minutes after launch.
This upcoming Starlink launch follows closely on the heels of another SpaceX mission, as the company aims to send the four-astronaut Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The Crew-7 mission, originally planned for Friday morning but delayed by 24 hours, will launch early Saturday morning.
With the upcoming launch, the total number of Starlink satellites will exceed 5,000. However, SpaceX has much larger ambitions, with permission to deploy up to 12,000 Starlink spacecraft in LEO. The company has also applied for permission to launch an additional 30,000 satellites.
SpaceX continues to make significant progress in its Starlink satellite project, promising global broadband coverage. As more satellites are launched, the world inches closer to a new era of connectivity.
[Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect the new launch date of Aug. 26. The original target date was Aug. 25.]