SpaceX Launches 21 Starlink Satellites Amid Weather Concerns

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capabilities, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 11:21 p.m. ET tonight. This mission, designated Starlink 12-21, marks the company’s first satellite deployment in over a week following a fuel leak incident that destroyed a Falcon 9 booster after landing.

The Falcon 9 will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), with a backup launch window running until 12:15 a.m. ET on March 11. Additional opportunities are available on Tuesday, starting at 10:48 p.m. ET. This mission represents the 22nd flight of the Falcon 9 booster 1069, which has previously completed 17 Starlink missions, among others.

Despite a 60 percent chance of favorable weather, officials from the 45th Weather Squadron have cautioned that wind conditions could pose a significant risk. “Liftoff winds are our primary concern,” a meteorologist reported. “The cold front approaching the region will make for windy and unsettled weather, but it is expected to clear the area before launch.”

SpaceX plans to recover the first stage of the rocket via a drone ship named “A Shortfall of Gravitas.” If successful, it would mark the 101st booster landing for the platform and the 333rd booster landing overall. The mission aims to deploy the Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit as part of SpaceX’s efforts to enhance its global internet coverage.

“As we move forward with this launch, our focus remains on ensuring a safe and successful flight,” said a SpaceX representative on conditions surrounding the launch. “We tightly monitor wind shear and recovery weather metrics, so our crews are prepared for any challenges.”

In recent days, the company has used its Falcon 9 rocket extensively, including a launch of Indonesia’s Merah Putih communications satellite early this morning. The completion of these flights emphasizes the rapid pace and reliability that SpaceX has built into its launch operations.

With the anticipation surrounding tonight’s launch, Spaceflight Now is set to provide live coverage starting about an hour before liftoff. Spectators and enthusiasts alike will be able to follow the mission as it unfolds.