SpaceX launched another batch of Starlink satellites on Wednesday (April 19).
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 of SpaceX’s new Starlink “V2 mini” satellites will lift off at 10:31 a.m. EST (1431 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida. There are four backup launch opportunities currently scheduled for the same day if an issue occurs during the initial period.
Approximately 8 minutes and 26 seconds after launch, the first stage of the rocket will attempt to land on SpaceX’s self-driving unmanned vehicle, A Shortfall of Gravity, waiting nearby in the Atlantic Ocean. You can watch the event live here on SpaceX.com’s SpaceX.com.
Related: Starlink satellites: everything you need to know
SpaceX’s Starlink V2 mini satellite is designed to be more powerful than previous iterations, enabling greater bandwidth capacity than previous generations, depending on the company (Opens in a new tab). It also features Hall thrusters, which are electric propulsion systems that provide more than twice the thrust of the first generation Starlink satellites. Floor SpaceX (Opens in a new tab).
SpaceX already has more than 4,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, but has plans to increase that number. The company has received regulatory approval to roll out up to 12,000 more Starlink vehicles and is seeking permission to add another 30,000.
While satellites will help bring broadband internet to remote or disadvantaged locations around the world, that number of satellites also has a downside, as astronomers complain about the Starlink spacecraft interfering with scientific observations.
Wednesday’s mission will be the company’s 25th flight so far in 2023. The first mission to fly previously launched the Hakuto-R private cruiser into lunar orbit and three Starlink missions, as well as other payloads.
When it comes to SpaceX’s upcoming launch, all eyes are on the first space launch of the company’s massive Starship rocket, which is currently targeted for Thursday (April 20). When the Starship launches in a historic test flight, it will claim the title of the world’s most powerful rocket and pave the way for a new era of human spaceflight.
This story was updated on April 19 at 7:50 a.m. EST and 9:15 a.m. EST to reflect revised launch times.
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