SpaceX to Launch Starlink Satellites Amid Record-Breaking Spaceplane Mission

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. — SpaceX is preparing to launch its latest batch of Starlink satellites early Friday morning from California, marking another milestone in the company’s ambitious satellite internet project. The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Starlink 11-6 mission, is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at 6:07 a.m. PST (9:07 a.m. EST, 1407 UTC). Backup launch opportunities are available until 9:29 a.m. PST (12:29 p.m. EST, 1729 UTC).

This mission will utilize Falcon 9 booster 1063, which is making its 23rd flight. The booster has previously supported high-profile missions, including three for the National Reconnaissance Office, NASA‘s DART mission, and 14 Starlink flights. Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, the booster will attempt to land on the SpaceX droneship, ‘Of Course I Still Love You.’ If successful, this will mark the 118th landing on the droneship and the 401st booster landing overall.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military’s robotic spaceplane, the X-37B, has set a new record by surpassing 719 days in orbit. Launched nearly two years ago from Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the X-37B continues to demonstrate the Air Force’s advanced space capabilities. The mission’s details remain classified, but its longevity highlights the growing role of reusable space technology.

SpaceX’s launch schedule remains packed, with another Falcon 9 mission planned for Sunday from Cape Canaveral. However, this launch will be under a news blackout at the request of the National Reconnaissance Office, underscoring the secrecy surrounding U.S. government intelligence operations in space.

Weather conditions for Friday’s launch are favorable, with mostly sunny skies, mild temperatures, and light winds forecasted. The mission is part of SpaceX’s broader effort to expand its Starlink constellation, which aims to provide global broadband internet coverage. The company has already deployed thousands of satellites, with plans for thousands more in the coming years.

Spaceflight Now will provide live coverage of the launch, beginning approximately 30 minutes before liftoff. The event underscores SpaceX’s dominance in the commercial space industry and its ongoing collaboration with government agencies to advance space exploration and technology.