This morning at 9:22am EDT, SpaceX will be launching another batch of Starlink satellites, adding to their ever-growing constellation of internet satellites. The satellites will be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from LC-39a at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
On this mission, the first stage is being used for the 5th time in a row, another reusability first for SpaceX, no other first stage booster has exceeded 4 launches yet. This booster previously supported its first mission in July of 2018 on the Iridium-7 mission. It's then supported the SAOCOM 1A, Nusantara Satu, and the second Starlink launches. The first stage will be landing on their drones ship "Of Course I Still Love You" stationed out in the Atlantic. The fairings on this mission were launched on the first Starlink mission in May of 2019 and are going to be recovered once again roughly 45 minutes after launch using their recovery vessels, Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief.
The Starlink satellites will be deployed into a low orbit 15 minutes after launch. Then using Ion Thrusters, they will raise their orbits to a circular 550km orbit after data is reviewed and checked out by SpaceX engineers.
SpaceX is aiming to have coverage across the Northern US and Canada this year, and then global coverage by 2021.
Live coverage of the launch can be found @ www.spacex.com/webcast
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