The next batch of 23 Starlink satellites for SpaceX's satellite internet service is scheduled to take a Falcon 9 rocket into orbit on Sunday from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff is now set for 5:35 PM EST (2235 UTC).
SpaceX previously announced a four-hour launch window that opened at 4 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC), but needs to clear the way for the inaugural launch of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket from nearby Pad 41. The rocket was only lifted upright onto the launch pad at around 1pm EST, leaving the crew racing to meet the new launch target of 5:35pm EST.
Spaceflight Now will have live coverage of the mission starting one hour before liftoff. You can watch live views of Falcon 9 at our website Turn on the pad's live broadcast.
The first stage booster supporting this flight, tail number B1067, will make its 16th flight, becoming only the fourth booster to reach this milestone. There are only three other boosters with a longer flying history that are still in use after B1058 was inadvertently destroyed during a recovery operation:
- B1058 – 19 flights (destroyed)
- B1060 – 17 flights (next flight TBD)
- B1061 – 17 flights (next flight TBD)
- B1062 – 17 flights (next flight TBD)
B1060, B1061 and B1067 each boast the launch of two Crew Dragon spacecraft during their lifetime. B1080 is scheduled to join that club later this month when it launches on its fifth flight with Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) astronauts aboard the Crew Dragon Freedom.
About eight and a half minutes after takeoff, B1067 will land on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” drone. If all goes well, this will be the ASOG rover's 56th successful landing since it was put into the mix. The other East Coast-based drone, called “Read Instructions Only,” remains out of service in North Carolina.
SpaceX's next mission on deck is Starlink 7-10 flight, scheduled to launch from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Tuesday, January 9, with a window opening around 9 p.m. PT (12 a.m. EDT, 0500 UTC on January 9).
SpaceX has not announced how many Starlink satellites will be on board that flight or whether there will be more new Starlinks featuring direct-to-cell functionality.
News of spacecraft on the horizon
The launches come as news about SpaceX's Starship rocket is set to loom on the horizon. Just over a week ago, SpaceX founder Elon Musk said on the social networking site
Recently, during an unrelated live stream on X, Musk stated that the talk will likely take place on Thursday, January 11, and will include updates about the company's Starship rocket. If this happens, it would mark the first substantive update to the coaxial launch program since the second integrated flight test launched from Starbase in south Texas in November.
There has been a flurry of activity at the development and launch site in recent weeks, including test launches of both Ship 28 and Booster 10. SpaceX has referred to them as the Flight 3 Starship and Flight 3 Super Heavy Booster respectively in social media posts.
A single engine in the Starship spacecraft's upper stage has been fired up “demonstrating a flight-like startup for a space burn,” SpaceX said in its posts. Following the test launches, viewers have warily spotted SpaceX testing the payload bay door on the spacecraft, likely indicating that this next mission could include some sort of payload.
Unexpected load bay door test after static fire. #SpaceX #starbase #Starship pic.twitter.com/t4qAAVJHCp
– Lab Padre Space (@LabPadre) December 20, 2023
The next announcement from Musk will come on the heels of another big event next week that could relate to the rocket. In a notice issued late Friday to members of the press, NASA announced that it would hold a media conference call to discuss the latest developments in the Artemis program and the return of humans to the moon.
The update will be led by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and will include Jim Frye, who is now NASA's Associate Administrator as of the beginning of 2024, following the retirement of Bob Cabana. Katherine Koerner, associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, and Amit Kshatriya, deputy associate administrator for the Moon to Mars Program, will also participate.
The notice to the press also stated that “representatives of industry partners will also be available to answer questions,” though it does not explicitly say whether that includes SpaceX or the developer of the lunar spacesuits scheduled to debut on the Artemis 3 mission, Axiom Space. .
“Devoted student. Bacon advocate. Beer scholar. Troublemaker. Falls down a lot. Typical coffee enthusiast.”