SatNews

Satellite Industry Intelligence Since 1983

SpaceX launches preholiday 20 Starlink smallsats including 13 Direct to Cell on July 3rd

Photo captured on Wednesday, July 3, by Satnews from SpaceX’s video stream.

On Wednesday, July 3 at 4:55 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The launch was delayed by two hours due to technical issues. (See next paragraph.)

Kiko Dontchev, the SpaceX vice president of launch, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the booster experienced “a real issue,” which required them “to go inspect the hardware in detail.” Adding that the problem created “the first week without a Falcon launch in a long time.”

This was the 16th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SES-22, ispace’s HAKUTO-R MISSION 1, Amazonas-6, CRS-27, Bandwagon-1, and now 11 Starlink missions.

Wednesday morning’s launch was the 67th Falcon 9 mission in 2024 with 70% of the launches this year dedicated to more than 6,150 operational satellites of Starlink’s constellation.

SpaceX’s pre-Independence Day, July 3rd launch of 20 Starlink satellites including 13 Direct to Cell

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Screen-Shot-2024-06-05-at-11.36.52-PM.png
Photo captured on Tuesday, June 4, by Satnews from SpaceX’s video stream.

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, July 3 for a Falcon 9 launch of 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 2:57 a.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 5:59 a.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Sunday, July 7 starting at 12:28 a.m. ET.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX.

This is the 16th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SES-22, ispace’s HAKUTO-R MISSION 1, Amazonas-6, CRS-27, Bandwagon-1, and 10 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.