SpaceX aims to complete three successful launches this week, with the Falcon Heavy leading the operation and launching two Falcon 9 rockets next.
For the first time at SpaceX this week, Starlink satellites are scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on April 25 at 6:02 a.m. PDT (13:02 UTC). This will be Booster 1061’s 13th launch. 46 Starlink v1.5 satellites will join the growing constellation.
After the next day, Falcon Heavy is currently scheduled to launch the Viasat-3 communications satellite built by Boeing into geostationary orbit from Launch Complex 39-A at Kennedy Space Center. The one-hour launch window opens before local sunset at 7:24 PM EST (23:24 UTC) This will be the first time the Falcon Heavy has launched in its fully expendable form. The two side boosters, B1052, on its eighth flight and B1053, on its third flight, and the core was B1068 on its first and only flight.
Falcon Heavy in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A pic.twitter.com/7la68mjfVD
– SpaceX (SpaceX) April 11, 2023
Wrapping up the week on April 28 at 5:12 PM EST (21:12 UTC), this time from Space Launch Complex 40 located at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, SpaceX will launch the O3b mPower 3 & 4 communications satellites, Also made by Boeing and operated by SES. It is currently unknown which booster will carry out this mission, but it will attempt to land on the ‘Just Read the Instructions’ drone ship.
The third and fourth SES O3b mPOWER satellites are encased inside the Falcon 9 payload gallery before their flight into orbit later this week. pic.twitter.com/tN5i2YCgw6
– Ben Cooper (LaunchPhoto) April 23, 2023
The two launches come just one week after SpaceX successfully launched the Starship for the first time in a test run that was the culmination of years of preparation and engineering.
Starship delivers thrills, but launch pad damage is in question
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