Update: SpaceX adjusted the T-0 liftoff time of the mission.
SpaceX aims to continue its post-mishap resurgence with back-to-back launches in the early morning hours of Sunday. It staged two of its Falcon 9 rockets to launch from its pads in both Florida and California.
First up is the Starlink 10-4 mission, which will add a batch of 23 Starlink Version 2 Mini satellites to its growing mega-constellation. Liftoff is targeting 1:09 a.m. EDT (0509 UTC).
Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about an hour prior to liftoff.
The mission comes on the heels of a successful return to flight operation for SpaceX early Saturday morning. It was the first Falcon 9 launch in just over two weeks, following a second stage mishap that occurred during a Starlink mission, which launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base on July 11.
The Falcon 9 booster supporting this mission, tail number B1077 in the SpaceX fleet, will be launching for a 14th time. It previously launched NASA’s Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station, the GPS 3 Space Vehicle 06 satellite and two cargo missions to the orbiting outpost among its previous flights.
A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, the booster will land on the SpaceX droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’ If successful, it will mark the 77th landing on ASOG and the 331st booster landing to date.
The Starlink 10-4 mission will be the 51st dedicated Starlink launch of 2024 and the 114th dedicated launch of the V2 Mini variety of Starlink satellites.
According to expert orbital tracker and astrophysicist, Jonathan McDowell, there are more than 6,100 active Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit. On Wednesday, SpaceX announced that with a recent deal from the airline, WestJet, Starlink internet service is now available on more than 1,000 aircraft.
