If the weather cooperates, SpaceX will be able to launch rideshare cargo satellites this weekend. It will be the 39th and 40th launches in Florida this year. The anticipated schedule is between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Blue Walker and Starlink Satellite Launch
According to Florida Today, a 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch another set of internet-beaming Starlink satellites into orbit on Saturday. The BlueWalker-3 test satellite for AST SpaceMobile, a Texas-based telecommunications company that aspires to launch a global cellular broadband network in space, is another rideshare cargo on the flight.
Last month, SpaceX announced its plans to leverage its current Starlink satellite network to deliver cellular service capabilities from orbit in collaboration with T-Mobile.
The 40th launch from Florida this year, which will take place on Sunday, will also transport new Starlink satellites from the corporation to add to the more than 3,000 that are already in orbit.
Both Falcon 9s' first stages should touch down on drone ships in the Atlantic Ocean and be brought back to Port Canaveral a few days later.
Weather Prediction on Blue Walker and Starlink Satellites' Launch
The Saturday window was expected to have a 60% chance of "go" conditions, and the Sunday window to have a 70% chance, as predicted by weather forecasters. The biggest risk for both launch attempts is late afternoon, developing thunderstorms and clouds that could continue into the evening.
According to Space Launch Delta 45 predictions, the southwest flow will result in a slower-moving inland east coast sea wind, which will hold late-day collisions closer to the Spaceport and push storms back over in the evenings.
Should a backup launch be required, both missions have opportunities on Sunday, Sep. 11, and Monday, Sep. 12, with a 70% likelihood of favorable weather for both occasions.
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Blue Walker-3 Satellite
The Bluewalker-3 satellite, built by Texas-based AST SpaceMobile, is a test model for the company's larger BlueBird satellite constellation, which will consist of 110 low-Earth orbiting satellites with global coverage.
The satellite's goal is to directly connect mobile phones to a broadband network from orbit.
However, AST SpaceMobile appears prepared to conduct the system's long-awaited orbital test before the entire BlueBird satellite constellation is fully deployed and operational by 2024.
In the near future, connectivity may be easily accessed with a pull-down app on the phone - no bulky intermediary receiver is required. When it comes to deploying this next generation of satellite internet, AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird system may even surpass SpaceX's Starlink/T-Mobile cooperation.
Starlink Satellites
According to PCMag, the SpaceX satellite internet system can theoretically deliver 150 Mbps internet speeds to any location on the earth. The system started serving its first users in the fall of 2020, many of whom were stationed in isolated or rural areas of America.
The utilization of low-Earth orbiting satellites, which circle the planet at only 300 miles above the surface, is one of the two primary ways that SpaceX's system exceeds current technology. Because of the shorter travel distance, internet speeds can be significantly increased while latency is decreased. Another strategy is to launch up to 40,000 satellites in the coming years to power the system and ensure uninterrupted global coverage.
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