SpaceX plans to launch 29 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday, May 1. The launch window opens at 1:33 p.m. and closes at 4:33 p.m. The mission will use a Falcon 9 rocket, with the first stage booster having previously supported 30 flights, including 26 Starlink missions and several other commercial and government payloads.
The booster, which has flown multiple times before, will attempt a landing on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship in the Atlantic Ocean after stage separation. This will be the 31st flight for the first stage, which has previously launched missions such as the CRS-24 cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station and various Starlink deployments.
The launch is part of SpaceX’s broader effort to expand its Starlink constellation, which aims to provide broadband internet services to underserved regions worldwide. The satellites will be deployed into low-Earth orbit, where they will join thousands of others already in operation. Local residents and space enthusiasts are expected to gather at nearby viewing areas to watch the event, though officials have not confirmed any special public viewing events.
This mission follows a series of recent launches from the Space Coast, including a Starlink mission in early April and a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch in March. SpaceX has been a frequent user of SLC-40, with the site serving as a key hub for the company’s operations in Florida. The company’s next scheduled launch from the Space Coast is currently undetermined, pending mission planning and regulatory approvals.