SpaceX is scheduled to launch a new group of Starlink satellites on Friday, June 23, and anyone has the opportunity to watch the entire event live at no cost. As per their launch advisory, SpaceX aims to send 56 Starlink satellites into orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket at 9:56 a.m. EDT (1356 GMT).
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 second-generation Starlink satellites launches from Space Launch Complex 40 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Cocoa Beach, Florida, on February 27, 2023.
56 Additional Starlink Satellites in Low-Earth Orbit
The launch will take place from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) situated at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. It can be viewed live for free on SpaceX's official YouTube channel.
Following liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage will return and land on a drone ship named a Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately eight minutes after launch. The deployment of the Starlink satellites is anticipated to occur around 65 minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX has announced that the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage, which will be used for the upcoming Starlink satellite launch, has already been employed in multiple missions.
Space.com reported that these missions include delivering supplies to the International Space Station (CRS-24), launching satellites such as Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, OneWeb 1, SES-18, and SES-19, and facilitating three previous Starlink missions.
In case of any launch delays or issues, backup launch opportunities are scheduled for Saturday, June 24, at 9:05 a.m. EDT (1305 GMT) and later at 10:46 a.m. EDT (14:46 GMT), as stated in SpaceX's launch advisory.
To date, SpaceX has successfully launched over 4,500 Starlink satellites, with approximately 4,200 of them currently operational. Astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell provided this information.
However, SpaceX intends to expand its megaconstellation further. The company has already obtained permission to launch 12,000 broadband satellites and has submitted an application for approval to deploy an additional 30,000 satellites.
READ ALSO: China Plans To Deploy 13,000 Satellites to Space To Build a Megaconstellation Like SpaceX's Starlink
Starlink 5-12 Mission Introduces New Generation of Satellites
SpaceX's latest Starlink mission, known as Starlink 5-12, marks the introduction of the company's second-generation (Gen2) network, SpaceFlight Now reported.
While the Starlink V1.5 satellites are similar to previous spacecraft, they will be placed in orbital planes designated for the Gen2 network. This transition is an interim step before the deployment of larger Starlink V2 satellites using SpaceX's Starship rocket.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted SpaceX approval to launch up to 7,500 Starlink Gen2 satellites into slightly different orbits compared to the original fleet. The Starlink 5-12 mission will target an orbital plane with a 43-degree inclination, improving coverage over lower latitude regions.
With over 1 million active subscribers, including households, cruise ship companies, airlines, and military forces, SpaceX's Starlink network aims to provide reliable internet connectivity in areas where traditional fiber connections are limited or expensive. The Gen2 satellites will enhance coverage and support the growing consumer demand for Starlink's services.
Engineers at SpaceX's launch and landing control center in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station will oversee the countdown and fueling process of the Falcon 9 rocket, which will carry the Starlink 5-12 mission into space.
RELATED ARTICLE: Elon Musk Shares Stunning Photo of SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch Carrying 53 More Starlink Internet Satellites
Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.