It’s launch day! Things to know about SpaceX’s fifth Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral
It might be Monday, but at least there was a launch to view today.
SpaceX launched its fifth batch of Starlink communication satellites (the first were launched in May), bringing SpaceX closer to reaching its goal of providing global internet coverage from space.
Originally set for launch Sunday, the Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 40 at 10:04 a.m. Monday.
Here are things to know about the launch:
• Densely packed together in the payload fairing are 60 Starlink communications satellites.
• Upon success of this mission, SpaceX will have launched a total of 300 Starlink satellites.
• The Falcon 9 rocket’s first-stage booster attempted an automatic landing on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Atlantic Ocean.
• This was the fourth flight of the rocket’s first-stage booster, having previously launched three missions last year.
• SpaceX’s goal is to have almost 12,000 satellites operating in low-Earth orbit, with plans to launch an additional 30,000 satellites in the future.
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• Part of the goal of creating the Starlink broadband constellation is to help fund SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s dream of colonizing Mars.
• Full coverage began at 8:30 a.m. Monday at floridatoday.com/space and features in-depth coverage, photos, charts and more. Ask the space team – Emre Kelly, Antonia Jaramillo and Rachael Joy – questions and strike up a conversation.
Contact Jaramillo at 321-242-3668 or antoniaj@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AntoniaJ_11. Get the latest space news by becoming a subscriber.
