SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission After Delays and Weather Challenges

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX is set to launch its Starlink 12-21 mission on Tuesday night, targeting 11:48 p.m. EDT after delays caused by a previous fuel leak incident and adverse weather conditions. The mission will deploy 21 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking the company’s first batch of launches since March 2.

The Falcon 9 rocket’s long-awaited launch comes after a fuel leak led to the destruction of booster B1086 shortly after its previous landing. Although Monday’s planned flight was delayed due to strong winds, the 45th Weather Squadron indicated a greater than 95 percent chance of favorable conditions for the upcoming attempt.

“Nearly ideal local weather is expected for the primary launch attempt tonight with mostly clear skies and light winds,” the Squadron said in a forecast.

The Falcon 9 rocket supporting this launch, booster 1069, will undertake its 22nd flight, having previously completed 17 Starlink missions and other commercial payloads. Following liftoff, booster 1069 is expected to land on the droneship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ approximately eight minutes into the flight, aiming for the 101st recovery for the droneship.

SpaceX vice president of Launch Kiko Dontchev addressed recent delays in the lead-up to this launch. “As much as we love launching rockets, nothing is more important than safety and reliability. We have stood done multiple times simply to double and triple check everything even if we could have flown that day,” he said in a statement.

The Starlink 12-21 mission includes 21 satellites, 13 of which will incorporate Direct-to-Cell capabilities, enabling new communication functionalities.

This launch also serves as a crucial return to flight for SpaceX following the mishaps associated with the Starlink 12-20 mission. Several challenges have affected the timeline, from unfavorable sea states on the West Coast to weather-related delays in booster refurbishments.

The Falcon 9’s dual mission on Tuesday also includes the launch of NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions from Vandenberg Space Force Base, symbolizing a busy night for the company.

The PUNCH mission and SPHEREx mission aim to advance our understanding of the universe and solar winds, showcasing the increasing collaboration between SpaceX and NASA.

The upcoming launch is not just significant for SpaceX but represents a step forward in expanding global internet accessibility through the Starlink program, vital for communication in remote regions.