KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — SpaceX successfully launched its Starlink 6-56 mission Wednesday afternoon.
What You Need To Know
- SpaceX launches Starlink 6-56 mission at 2:42 p.m. ET
- Launch took place at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, carrying more than 20 Starlink satellites, stated SpaceX. SpaceX owns the Starlink company.
The window was originally set to open at 11 a.m. ET and was pushed back to 1:34 p.m. ET and then to 2:10 p.m. ET. No reason was given for the delays.
The 45th Weather Squadron gave a 90% chance of good liftoff conditions, with the only concerns being the cumulus cloud rule.
This might also be the first launch for SpaceX today. It plans on launching the Starlink 8-2 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Wednesday evening.
Going up
The Falcon 9's first-stage booster, B1083, for this mission is quite young. It only has two launches to its unique name.
After the stage separation, the first-stage rocket will land on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas that will be in the Atlantic Ocean.
About the mission
The 23 satellites will head to low-Earth orbit, where the rest of them are “parked”.
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics’ Dr. Jonathan McDowell documents Starlink satellites.
Before this launch, McDowell recorded the following:
- 5,935 are in orbit
- 5,223 are in operational orbit
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