SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch 29 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on Tuesday, April 14, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 2:13 a.m. ET and closes at 6:13 a.m. ET. This mission will be the 26th flight for the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster, which has previously supported missions including Ax-2, Euclid, Ax-3, CRS-30, SES ASTRA 1P, NG-21, and 19 Starlink launches. The booster will land on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean after stage separation.
The Falcon 9 has become a workhorse for SpaceX’s Starlink program, which aims to provide global broadband internet. This particular booster, built for the Falcon 9 Block 5, has completed multiple missions since its first flight in 2018. Engineers at SpaceX’s nearby Hawthorne, California, headquarters monitor the booster’s performance after each landing. The reusability of the first stage has significantly reduced costs for the company and its clients.
The launch will be visible from parts of Florida’s east coast, though weather conditions could affect the timeline. If delayed, the mission may be moved to Wednesday. The Starlink satellites will deploy into orbit approximately 30 minutes after liftoff. Each satellite is equipped with advanced software to autonomously adjust its position and avoid collisions with other objects in space.
This flight follows SpaceX’s recent launches, including a Falcon 9 mission on April 9 carrying a Northrop Grumman payload. The company has conducted over 100 launches since 2010, with SLC-40 serving as a primary launch site for Starlink missions. The next launch from the complex is scheduled for late May, pending technical reviews and weather assessments.