On the heels of Wednesday’s Falcon 9 rocket launch doubleheader, SpaceX crews at the moment are eyeing Sunday evening for the subsequent liftoff from Cape Canaveral Area Power Station.
SpaceX is focusing on a 9:24 p.m. EST liftoff for the Starlink 12-20 mission. Backup alternatives will stay obtainable at Launch Advanced 40 till 12:21 a.m. Monday, if wanted.
Anticipate the Falcon 9 to deploy a payload of Starlink internet-beaming satellites into low-Earth orbit after ascending in a southeasterly trajectory. No Central Florida sonic booms ought to happen — moderately, the rocket’s first-stage booster will goal touchdown aboard a SpaceX drone ship tons of of miles away within the Atlantic Ocean.
Sunday’s nighttime launch will clock in as the 20th orbital rocket launch of the year from the Area Power set up and NASA’s neighboring Kennedy Area Middle.
On Wednesday, SpaceX launched Intuitive Machines’ second lunar lander on a trek to the moon at 7:16 p.m. from KSC. Then, a second Falcon 9 lifted off on a Starlink mission at 10:34 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Area Power Station.
“Lower than 4 hours aside, #SpaceX launched #Starlink 12-13 & Intuitive Machines’ IM-2, showcasing joint collaboration & fast launch functionality,” Space Launch Delta 45 officials said in a Thursday tweet.
“The area area by no means sleeps — and neither can we,” the tweet mentioned.
For the most recent information from Cape Canaveral Area Power Station and NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle, go to floridatoday.com/space.
Rick Neale is a Area Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
