SpaceX is poised to equal its rocket-reuse record as it gears up for a Thursday launch attempt following a scrubbed attempt on Wednesday.
SpaceX
The Falcon 9 rocket is set to lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying 23 of SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites. The launch window opens at 7:04 p.m. EDT (2304 GMT).
This mission marks the 19th liftoff for the Falcon 9’s first stage, according to SpaceX. If successful, it will match the record set last December and equaled for the first time last month.
Wednesday’s initial launch attempt was halted unexpectedly just 2 minutes before liftoff, prompting a scrub without explanation.
You can watch Thursday’s launch attempt live via SpaceX’s X account, starting approximately five minutes before the launch window opens.
Following liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage will return to Earth, aiming to land on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff. Meanwhile, the rocket’s upper stage will continue to deploy the Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit, with deployment expected about 65.5 minutes after liftoff.
Extensive rocket reuse is a central focus for SpaceX and its CEO, Elon Musk, with the ultimate goal of making space travel more economically viable. SpaceX’s next-generation vehicle, Starship, is designed for full and rapid reusability, a technological advancement that Musk believes will pave the way for future Mars colonization efforts.
In addition to the Starlink launch, SpaceX is also preparing for the third-ever test flight of Starship from its Starbase site in South Texas, which could occur as soon as Thursday morning.
