The Starlink 6-76 mission is scheduled for liftoff tonight from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 10:35 p.m. EST (0335 UTC, November 26), following a day already filled with Falcon 9 rocket milestones.
The Falcon 9 rocket will launch from the iconic Launch Complex 39A, flying southeast. Clear skies are predicted to complement the high-stakes event.
According to the 45th Weather Squadron, there is a greater than 95 percent chance of favorable conditions.
If successful, the first-stage booster of the Falcon 9 will land on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
This landing would mark the 87th recovery for ASOG and the 375th booster landing overall.
Viewers can tune into the launch of SpaceX's X (formerly Twitter) page, @SpaceX.
SpaceX's Starlink Momentum
Earlier today, SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, including 12 with direct-to-smartphone capability.
This morning's flight was the 13th mission for the Falcon 9 booster, which returned safely to the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.
Adding to an already packed weekend, SpaceX also conducted a Starlink launch on Sunday from California, deploying 20 satellites—13 of which featured Direct to Cell capabilities to act as "cell towers in space."
That booster completed its 15th flight, landing on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean.
Sunday's launch marked the 400th Falcon 9 orbital flight. Although this launch was initially kept under wraps, with no live broadcast or public statements, SpaceX unexpectedly began streaming onboard footage two minutes after liftoff. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk later shared the live stream, too.
Expanding the Largest Satellite Constellation
Starlink, SpaceX's ambitious internet constellation, continues to grow rapidly. According to the satellite tracking site Orbiting Now, Starlink already has more than 7,000 objects in orbit, making it the largest satellite constellation ever built.
Most of these satellites have a lifespan of about five years, with their reentry and disintegration in Earth's atmosphere occasionally drawing attention. A Starlink satellite made headlines earlier this month when it burned up as a spectacular fireball over the United States.
These missions also underscore SpaceX's remarkable productivity: 116 Falcon 9 missions in 2024, with nearly 70 percent dedicated to Starlink deployments.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about SpaceX? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
English (US) ·