SpaceX launching 27 Starlink satellites today in 1st flight since Starship explosion

SpaceX is gearing up for another milestone today, Jan. 18, with the launch of 27 Starlink internet satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. This mission comes just two days after the company’s Starship megarocket experienced an explosive end during its seventh test flight.

The Falcon 9 is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California during a nearly two-hour launch window opening at 12:03 p.m. EST (1703 GMT). Weather permitting, the rocket will carry the Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit, deploying them approximately 61.5 minutes after liftoff.

This launch marks the 10th flight for this particular Falcon 9 booster, seven of which have been dedicated to Starlink missions. Following separation, the first stage is expected to return to Earth, landing on the Pacific Ocean-based drone ship, Of Course I Still Love You, about eight minutes after launch.

SpaceX will broadcast the event live, with coverage beginning five minutes before the scheduled liftoff.

The mission underscores SpaceX’s rapid pace of operations, as it will be the company’s 10th launch this year and the ninth involving the Falcon 9 rocket. The previous launch, the Starship test flight on Jan. 16, was a mix of triumph and challenge. While the Starship’s Super Heavy booster successfully completed a dramatic “chopstick” catch at the launch tower, the upper stage exploded just 8.5 minutes into flight, likely due to a propellant leak.

Despite the setback, SpaceX’s commitment to advancing space technology remains undeterred, as evidenced by today’s Starlink launch. The growing constellation of satellites aims to provide global internet coverage, bridging connectivity gaps in underserved regions worldwide.

For those eager to witness the Falcon 9’s ascent and follow updates on SpaceX’s ambitious endeavors, the live webcast promises to deliver a front-row seat to another chapter in the company’s groundbreaking journey.