A rocket launch today saw SpaceX lift a Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 29 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites into low Earth orbit, SpaceX confirmed the deployment as reported by Spaceflight Now.
The first stage booster, tail number B1078, completed its 27th flight and returned to the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas for a successful landing, Spaceflight Now reported, marking the vessel's 148th touchdown and SpaceX's 590th booster recovery overall.
Florida Today described bright morning sunshine at the range and noted the mission counted as the 21st orbital rocket launch from the military installation and adjacent Kennedy Space Center so far this year, with local launch coverage available from the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team.
Operations Context And Near Term Schedule
Brevard County Emergency Management activated its launch operations support team ahead of the mission and deactivated that team after liftoff, Florida Today reported, underscoring routine local coordination for range operations and public safety during launches.
SpaceX is targeting a subsequent morning Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral later in the week, Florida Today reported, with a launch window planned for several hours and no sonic booms expected along the trajectory, and the company lists 29 satellites manifest for that flight.
Space Force officials also announced a change to a planned national security launch, moving the next GPS III 8 mission from United Launch Alliance to a SpaceX Falcon 9, a decision the service described as enabling more rapid delivery of advanced GPS capability while the Vulcan anomaly investigation continues, Col. Ryan Hiserote said in a press release.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offered public viewing sites for the launch, Florida Today reported, and SpaceX posted a webcast of the countdown and flight, which was accompanied in reporting by a step by step outline of the Falcon 9 prelaunch checklist and fueling milestones.
