‘Unfavorable weather’ postpones SpaceX launch of Starlink satellites
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A Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. The payload is the 17th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX s Starlink broadband network. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (Associated Press)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX was ready to roll Sunday night to carry more Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, but at the last minute, the plans were scrapped due to weather conditions.
At least two were planned for this week of launches of 60 Starlink satellites at a time.
SpaceX received approval Friday from the 45th Space Wing, which oversees the eastern range, for a Falcon 9 lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base Sunday night carrying more Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.
SpaceX launches another batch of Starlink satellites, misses booster landing
Users can now take part in Starlink Beta program
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX plans to continue weekly launches of 60 Starlink satellites at a time with the latest batch launching Monday night.
A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base Monday night carrying more Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.
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However, about 8 minutes after launch, the Falcon 9 booster missed its landing opportunity on a drone ship at sea, breaking SpaceX’s successful landing streak.
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A livestream shot of the “Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship picked up a bright flash but the booster never appeared in the frame.
The Omaha-area base has its own space legacy, with the Offutt-based U.S. Strategic Command actually having overseen military space operations until just last year.
Combine that mission synergy with Offuttâs tremendous communications infrastructure, a state university thatâs one of just 14 nationally designated by the Defense Department as a center for national security research, and community leaders whoâve shown theyâre not afraid to open their wallets in a big way to support the military. Taken together, those pushing the Offutt bid believe the base can rocket to the top.
âWe have all the right things to be highly competitive for this mission,â said Rick Evans, a retired Air Force major general from Omaha who is working with the state and Greater Omaha Chamber on the Offutt bid. âI would be surprised if we arenât in the top 1 or 2. We have a solid chance.â
Astra Space 1 of 3 rocket on the launch pad in Alaska. (Credit: DARPA webcast)
There are at least 11 orbital launches and one suborbital flight scheduled to be conducted around the world by the end of the year. Launches will take place from the United States, Russia, India, China, New Zealand and French Guiana.
The schedule includes flight tests of the following vehicles:
Astra’s Rocket 3.2 rocket (Dec. 11)
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo crewed suborbital space plane (Dec. 11)
Russia’s Angara heavy-lift booster (Dec. 14)
Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne (Dec. 19).
The full schedule is below. Thanks to Spaceflight Now’s excellent
Launch dates and times are subject to change without warning. And remember, no wagering!