SpaceX is gearing up for another Starlink satellite launch early Monday morning, November 25, from Florida’s coast. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites, including 12 equipped with direct-to-smartphone capability, is scheduled to lift off during a 3.5-hour window starting at 4:35 a.m. EST (0935 GMT). The launch will take place at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, according to Space.com.
If all goes as planned, the Falcon 9’s first stage will return to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff, landing on a droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This launch marks the 13th mission for the booster, which has completed 12 previous flights, six of which were dedicated to Starlink.
The Falcon 9’s upper stage will continue to transport the satellites into low Earth orbit, deploying them approximately 65 minutes after liftoff.
Starlink, the world’s largest satellite constellation, now consists of over 6,600 active spacecraft, according to satellite tracker and astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell. The constellation is a cornerstone of SpaceX’s efforts to provide global internet coverage.
SpaceX has had a remarkable year, completing 115 Falcon 9 missions so far in 2024, with nearly 70% of them dedicated to Starlink launches.
This mission further cements SpaceX’s role as a leader in commercial space exploration and satellite deployment.
