- SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capabilities, from Kennedy Space Center.
- The launch, delayed from Thursday and Friday, used a Falcon 9 booster on its tenth flight.
- The next SpaceX launch is scheduled for no earlier than 9:59 p.m. April 13th from Cape Canaveral.
After two days of scrubs, a bright Falcon 9 rocket lit up the skies over the Space Coast Saturday night.
Liftoff occurred at 8:53 p.m. from Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39A. Atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket were 21 Starlink internet satellites; 13 of which boasted Direct to Cell capabilities.
Depending on location, those watching got a good show as the rocket appeared to fly either over, under, or right in front of the full moon − which was situated in the eastern sky.
The launch was delayed from Thursday, and then again on Friday night. An official reason for the delays was not provided by SpaceX.
It was the 10th flight for the first stage booster. It previously flew four Starlink missions, NASA Crew-8, Polaris Dawn, CRS-31, Astranis: From One to Many, and IM-2.
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No Central Florida sonic booms were heard, as eight-and-a-half minutes after lift off the booster landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas drone ship, which was waiting out on the Atlantic Ocean.
The next SpaceX rocket launch is set for no earlier than 9:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40. The mission will see another batch of Starlink satellites delivered to orbit.
Amazon Kuiper Atlas V launch awaits new date
Following the scrub of the launch of Amazon’s first batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is currently waiting for a new launch date. The Atlas V rocket launch was scrubbed Wednesday night due to cumulus clouds and high winds.
United Launch Alliance’s CEO, Tory Bruno, posted to X (formerly Twitter) early Thursday that a new launch date will be announced once it is cleared on the range.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at [email protected] or on X: @brookeofstars.
