A Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from the Vandenberg Space Force Base on Saturday night. This mission, designated Starlink 17-2, aims to enhance internet connectivity in polar regions of the world. Liftoff is targeted for 8:55 p.m. PDT (11:55 p.m. EDT / 03:55 UTC), with live coverage available through Spaceflight Now approximately 30 minutes before the launch.
The Falcon 9 rocket will depart from Space Launch Complex 4 East, following a south-westerly trajectory. This launch will utilize the first stage booster known as B1075, marking its 19th flight. Previously, B1075 has been used in various missions, including the Transporter-11 rideshare and multiple batches of Starlink satellites.
Approximately 8.5 minutes post-launch, B1075 is expected to land on the droneship named “Of Course I Still Love You,” located in the Pacific Ocean. If successful, this would represent the 142nd landing for this vessel and the 481st booster landing overall for SpaceX.
This mission occurs as SpaceX prepares for its third astronaut mission of the year, scheduled to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Crew-11 mission is slated for launch on Thursday, with its four crew members arriving in Florida on Saturday afternoon for a rehearsal set for Monday.
The astronauts and cosmonaut participating in Crew-11 include Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos, Mike Fincke from NASA, and Zena Cardman from NASA, alongside a representative from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Their arrival marks another step in advancing human space exploration efforts.
As SpaceX continues to expand its satellite constellation and engage in crewed missions, the company remains at the forefront of aerospace technology and innovation, further aiming to bridge connectivity gaps across the globe.
