WATCH: SpaceX Rocket Launches 21 Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral
By Space Coast Daily // February 27, 2023
coverage of the launch can be seen on Space Coast Daily TV
ABOVE VIDEO: SpaceX Rocket Launch of 21 Starlink Satellites Set Monday from Cape Canaveral at 6:13 p.m.
BREVARD COUNTY • CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION – SpaceX is targeting today, Monday, February 27, for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 second-generation Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Space weather is a watch item, with the two-minute launch window opening around 6:13 p.m. ET (23:13 UTC).
There are two versions of Starlink’s second generation of satellites, V2 designed to fly on Starship, and V2 Mini, designed to fly on Falcon 9. The V2 Minis are smaller than the V2 satellites (hence the name) but don’t let the name fool you. The V2 Minis include more advanced phased array antennas and the use of E-band for backhaul, which will enable Starlink to provide ~4x more capacity per satellite than earlier iterations.
The V2 Minis are also equipped with new argon Hall thrusters for on orbit maneuvering. Developed by SpaceX engineers, they have 2.4x the thrust and 1.5x the specific impulse of our first gen thrusters. This will also be the first time ever that argon Hall thrusters are operated in space.
The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched CRS-26 and OneWeb Launch 16. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Tuesday, February 28 at 1:49 p.m. ET (18:49 UTC).
You can watch a live webcast of this mission beginning about five minutes prior to liftoff on Space Coast Daily TV.
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