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SpaceX sends 23 Starlink smallsats soaring after Memorial Day scrub

Photo captured on Tuesday, May 28, by Satnews from SpaceX video stream.

Previously scheduled to launch on Monday, Memorial Day, on Tuesday, May 28 at 10:24 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

It was a picture perfect day with clear skies and a vista of the Atlantic Ocean as the Falcon 9 rose to transport the Starlink smallsats into orbit.

Photo captured on Thursday, May 23, by Satnews from SpaceX video stream.

Another successful three-point landing for the 10th flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission that previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and now seven Starlink missions.

Tuesday’s launch was SpaceX’s 53rd orbital mission of the year, and 37th of 2024 dedicated to the Starlink megaconstellation that currently consists of nearly 6,000 operational satellites.

SpaceX scrubs Memorial Day launch of 23 Starlink smallsats and reschedules

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Photo captured on Thursday, May 23, by Satnews from SpaceX video stream.

SpaceX reports that it is now targeting Tuesday, May 28 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 7:30 a.m. ET, with opportunities available until 11:28 a.m. ET.

SpaceX did not state why it scrubbed the Memorial Day mission which was originally set to go up at 7:30 a.m. ET, then it pushed the lift off to 10:20 a.m. ET, then 10:56 a.m. ET and finally at 11:29 a.m. ET it was a no-go.

For Tuesday’s launch, the 45th Weather Squadron is giving a 90% to 85% chance of good liftoff conditions, with the only concerns being the cumulus cloud rule.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.

This is the 10th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and six Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX Memorial Day Starlink satellite launch

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SpaceX is targeting Monday, May 27 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 7:30 a.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 11:30 a.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Tuesday, May 28 starting at 7:30 a.m. ET.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.

This is the 10th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and six Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Starlink is a satellite constellation development project underway by American company SpaceX, to develop a low-cost, high-performance satellite bus and requisite customer ground transceivers to implement a new space-based Internet communication system.