CAPE CANAVERAL SpaceX and Falcon 9 launched another batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral into low Earth orbit late this afternoon. Liftoff was at 5:47 PM EDT under crystal clear skies and a slight breeze.
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1069 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘Just Read The Instructions’ to complete its nineteenth mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to low Earth orbit.
At 6:53 PM EDT, SpaceX confirmed a successful deployment of the 22 Starlink v2 mini satellites to a 279 kilometer (173 mile) 53º inclination orbit.
‘Just Read The Instructions’ will return to Port Canaveral with B1069.19. After unloading, the booster will be returned to Hangar X at Kennedy Space Center for inspection and presumably refurbishment before its next flight, which will be its twentieth.
By The Numbers
- Starlink 10-8 is the 102nd SpaceX launch this year and the 414th for the company all time.
- The mission is also labeled as Flight 386.
- Tonight launch was the 50th from SLC-40 this year.
- It was the 980th launch from Cape Canaveral.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
SpaceX is scheduled to launch another set of Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 early on Monday evening from Space Launch Complex 40.
- Date: NET October 21, 2024
- Organization: SpaceX
- Mission: Starlink Group 10-13
- Rocket: Falcon 9
- Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- Launch Window: 5:10 PM – 9:10 PM EDT
- Payload: Starlink satellites
Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed anytime due to weather, technical reasons, or range conditions.
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN
