SpaceX Set to Launch 60 Starlink V2 Mini Satellites Saturday Night

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — SpaceX is poised to launch its latest batch of Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit on Saturday night, April 5, at 11:07 p.m. EDT (0307 UTC). The Falcon 9 rocket, designated for the Starlink 6-72 mission, will lift off from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The 45th Weather Squadron predicts windy yet clear conditions for the launch, with a greater than 95 percent likelihood of favorable weather at liftoff. Meteorologists noted a high-pressure system across central Florida contributing to limited moisture, which should prevent significant cloud formation. However, potential winds could pose challenges during the launch window, which spans nearly four hours.

“High-pressure ridge over the Atlantic extending across central Florida will persist through the weekend, bringing strong subsidence across the peninsula,” launch weather officers said. “As a result, moisture availability will be limited, preventing the formation of significant cloud cover. The only potential constraint for both days will be liftoff winds.”

The Falcon 9 first stage booster, tail number B1078, will undertake its 19th flight during this mission. This booster has a history of supporting various missions, including Crew-6, USSF-124, and 14 previous Starlink launches. Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, B1078 will attempt to land on the droneship ‘Just Read the Instructions’ (JRTI), aiming for what would be the 114th successful landing for the platform and the 427th overall booster landing.

This launch follows a successful mission from the previous week when SpaceX’s Dragon cargo craft concluded a two-day journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday. After a precise final approach, astronauts utilized a robotic arm to capture the Dragon supply ship, marking the second trip of the refurbished capsule to the ISS.

Just days after the cargo flight, another Falcon 9 booster lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, successfully deploying 10 new-generation communications satellites for Iridium. This launch occurred on March 31 at 8:27 p.m. EST, further showcasing SpaceX’s capabilities in the satellite launch sector.

The upcoming launch is keenly anticipated within the aerospace community, as the expansion of the Starlink constellation is integral to SpaceX’s mission of providing global internet coverage.