SpaceX eyes another launch double-header from Cape Canaveral this weekend

Just over a week after the last back-to-back days of launches, SpaceX is aiming for a repeat.

On the evenings of both Wednesday and Thursday of last week, SpaceX launched Starlink satellites into orbit, adding to the quickly growing number of Florida rocket launches for the year.

According to National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warnings, SpaceX plans two upcoming rocket launches within a 24-hour time span. The first launch is expected Saturday, April 27, with another launch on Sunday, April 28. These launches will bring the Florida yearly total to 32. Earlier in the year, Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez predicted the Space Coast would see over 111 rocket launchesduring a speech at SpaceCom. This would break the record of 72 launches, which Florida saw last year.

On Saturday, a SpaceX Falcon 9 will carry Galileo satellites for the European Space Agency's global navigation system to orbit. The current system began in 2016, and consists of 28 navigational satellites already in orbit. The system is said to provide reliable global positioning services which are under civilian control.

The launch window opens at 8:29 p.m. and extends until 9:11 p.m., meaning the rocket will have to lift off during that time period or the launch will be scrubbed for the day. The launch will occur from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A. SpaceX has not released any official information on this launch.

Quelle: Florida Today

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Update: 28.04.2024

GALILEO L12 MISSION

On Saturday, April 27 at 8:34 p.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched the European Commission’s Galileo L12 mission to orbit from to medium Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This was the 20th flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched GPS III-3, Turksat 5A, Transporter-2, Intelsat G-33/G-34, Transporter-6, Intuitive Machines IM-1, and 13 Starlink missions.