Key Takeaways
- Return to Normalcy: SpaceX is scheduled for its first early-evening launch from Florida after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted restrictions that were in place during a recent government shutdown.
- Mission Details: The Starlink 6-94 mission is set to lift off at 7:12 p.m. EST from Cape Canaveral, carrying 29 Starlink internet satellites.
- Veteran Booster: The flight will be powered by a Falcon 9 booster, B1085, making its 12th trip to space.
- Favorable Conditions: Meteorologists are predicting a 95% chance of favorable weather for the launch window.
SpaceX is preparing to light up the Florida sky on Tuesday evening, marking a return to its regular launch schedule after recent FAA restrictions shifted its operations into the late-night hours. The Starlink 6-94 mission is slated for liftoff at 7:12 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
FAA Lifts Launch Curfew
This launch is the first to take advantage of a normalized schedule since the FAA lifted a “daytime curfew” on commercial launches. These restrictions were implemented as the agency managed air traffic control challenges during a government shutdown.
The curfew, which did not apply to government missions, had pushed SpaceX’s two previous Starlink launches on November 14 and 15 to after 10 p.m. EST. With the restrictions now removed, SpaceX can resume its high-cadence launch manifest during more optimal, early-evening windows.
Starlink 6-94 Mission Profile
The primary goal of Tuesday’s mission is to deploy another 29 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband internet constellation. The Falcon 9 rocket will head on a south-easterly trajectory over the Atlantic Ocean.
Reusable Rocket Power
Continuing its focus on reusability, SpaceX will use the Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1085 for this mission. This will be the 12th flight for the veteran booster. Following stage separation, B1085 is scheduled to perform a controlled descent and land on the droneship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas,’ which is positioned in the Atlantic Ocean.
The 29 Starlink satellites are expected to be deployed from the Falcon 9’s second stage approximately one hour and five minutes after liftoff.
Clear Skies Expected for Liftoff
Weather conditions appear to be nearly perfect for the launch. The 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral released a forecast predicting a 95 percent chance of acceptable conditions, ensuring a smooth countdown for SpaceX’s return to prime-time launches.