SpaceX Set for Starlink Launch Amid FAA Restrictions

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — SpaceX is gearing up to launch a batch of Starlink satellites early Saturday morning. The Starlink 10-51 mission is set to lift off at 7:10 a.m. EST (1210 UTC) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

This launch comes as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prepares to implement new commercial launch restrictions for U.S. airspace. The restrictions, effective from 6 a.m. EST on Nov. 10, will limit commercial space launches and reentries to occur only between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The Falcon 9 rocket used for this mission, tail number B1069, will be making its 28th flight. Previous missions for this booster include CRS-24 and OneWeb Launch #15. After approximately 8.5 minutes of flight, B1069 will attempt an autonomous landing on the drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ in the Atlantic Ocean, marking the 131st booster landing on this ship.

SpaceX plans to deploy 29 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites from the rocket’s upper stage about an hour after liftoff. This mission is particularly timed just days before the FAA’s emergency directive, which aims to manage commercial flight operations amid the ongoing government shutdown.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who is also the acting NASA administrator, announced a “temporary 10 percent reduction in flights” at busy airports, including Orlando International and Los Angeles International. The restrictions will vary in impact based on how commercial launches are defined.

SpaceX has scheduled five more Starlink missions from Nov. 10 to Nov. 19 and plans to launch the Transporter-15 mission on Nov. 11. While the company can adjust its launch times to meet FAA guidelines, some missions might require special exemptions to fit into the new framework.

The FAA, however, is currently unable to comment due to funding issues, responding only with automated messages concerning media inquiries. Meanwhile, Rocket Lab confirmed that its launch schedule from New Zealand remains unaffected by the FAA directive.

The upcoming launch continues to contribute to a busy schedule at Florida’s Space Coast. While the changes in regulations pose challenges, SpaceX is maneuvering to maintain its timeline amidst the evolving aviation restrictions.