CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE — After multiple delays, SpaceX finally launched the Starlink 6-34 mission late Monday night.

What You Need To Know

  • SpaceX successfully launched more than 20 Starlink satellites Monday night

  • The Starlink 6-34 mission faced multiple delays due to unfavorable conditions

  • Get more space coverage here  ▶

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 11:01 p.m. ET from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, confirmed SpaceX.

For the launch, the 45th Weather Squadron gave a 60% chance of good liftoff conditions, with the primary concerns being liftoff winds.

A history of Starlink 6-34 mission scrubs

This mission had seen a series of scrubs.

Sunday, Dec. 10: The launch window was set for 11 p.m. ET but the liftoff was called off due to poor weather.

Monday, Dec. 11: SpaceX did not give a reason why the launch was scrubbed. The launch window was set to open at 11:05 p.m. ET.

Tuesday, Dec. 12: Starlink 6-34 was supposed to go up at 11 p.m. ET, but it postponed due to high ground-level winds.  

Wednesday, Dec. 13: SpaceX announced that “unfavorable recovery weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean” is the reason why the 11:07 p.m. ET launch was called off.

Originally, SpaceX tried for a double launch more than once between the Starlink 6-34 mission and the USSF-52 mission that includes a Boeing space plane — but it is not meant to be as even the USSF-52 mission has seen its series of launch issues.

Going into the black

The Falcon 9 rocket’s first-stage booster, B1081, is quite young and only has two successful launches under its belt.

After the stage separation, the first-stage booster landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas that was in the Atlantic Ocean.

About the mission

Twenty-three Starlink satellites met thousands of their technical brothers and sisters. While in low-Earth orbit, they will provide internet services to many places around the planet, stated Starlink, a SpaceX company.

These Starlink V2 Mini satellites weigh quite a bit: Each one tips the scales at 1,760 pounds (800 kilograms).

Before the launch, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics’ Dr. Jonathan McDowell documented the following Starlink satellite information.

  • 5,206 are in orbit
  • 5,170 in working order
  • 4,536 are in operational orbit

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