{"id":3088225,"date":"2024-01-28T10:02:22","date_gmt":"2024-01-28T15:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-1016567-4521551.cloudwaysapps.com\/plato-data\/spacex-launches-first-of-planned-back-to-back-falcon-9-starlink-missions\/"},"modified":"2024-01-28T10:02:22","modified_gmt":"2024-01-28T15:02:22","slug":"spacex-launches-first-of-planned-back-to-back-falcon-9-starlink-missions","status":"publish","type":"station","link":"https:\/\/platodata.io\/plato-data\/spacex-launches-first-of-planned-back-to-back-falcon-9-starlink-missions\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX launches first of planned back-to-back Falcon 9 Starlink missions"},"content":{"rendered":"
A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Center carrying 23 Starlink satellites into space. Image: Adam Bernstein\/Spaceflight Now.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Update 8:40 p.m.: The first Falcon 9 of the night lifted off at 8:10 p.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center.<\/em><\/p>\n

SpaceX is preparing for a busy week to close out the month of January. Two Starlink flights are set to kick things off as the company prepares to launch a Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station for the first time.<\/p>\n

First up to bat is the Starlink 6-38 mission, which will send 23 more satellites to low Earth orbit. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket supporting this mission is set for Sunday, Jan. 28, at 8:10 p.m. EST (0110 UTC).<\/p>\n

Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning approximately one hour before liftoff.<\/p>\n

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SpaceX is calling upon Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center to launch this mission. It will be the 74th launch of a Falcon rocket from this pad (including nine Falcon Heavy rockets) and the 167th launch overall.<\/p>\n

A Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to support the launch of the Starlink 6-38 mission on Jan. 28, 2024, as the sun begins to set. Image: Adam Bernstein\/Spaceflight Now<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first stage booster supporting this mission, tail number B1062, will be making its 18th flight, having last flown in late November. It previously supported two crewed launches, a pair of GPS satellites and 10 Starlink launches to date.<\/p>\n

About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1062 will land on the droneship, \u2018A Shortfall of Gravitas.\u2019 This will be the 58th booster landing on this vessel and the 267th overall landing of a Falcon 9 first stage booster.<\/p>\n

Assuming an successful launch on Sunday, these will be the most current stats:<\/p>\n