SpaceX once again postpones the launch of Starlink due to weather conditions at sea

SpaceX has again postponed its next launch of Starlink internet satellites scheduled for Monday, choosing instead to pay for 24 hours due to conditions affecting the enhanced recovery area in the Atlantic.

“Now targeting Tuesday, November 24 at 9:13 PM EST for the Falcon 9 Starlink launch, when weather conditions improve in the recovery area,” SpaceX said The mission takes off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 40.

The Of course I still love you The drone ship designed to host missile landings, stationed about 250 miles northeast of Florida, experienced rough conditions for almost the entire day of Monday. If recovery areas are too unstable, the 162-foot Falcon 9 first stage could collapse, causing damage or even falling into the ocean. It could also explode and damage the drone ship.

Meanwhile, around the stage, the Space Force said Tuesday’s attempt should provide 80% “launch” conditions for takeoff. The ‘kick-off’ ratio does not include enhanced recovery weather or upper level winds, which are constantly monitored as teams approach the takeoff window.

An earlier attempt late Sunday was canceled as the 230-foot-long missile began to be fueled. The exact cause was not revealed, but SpaceX said the missile and the payload of 60 satellites from Starlink were “healthy” and that the teams needed more time to review the data.

This boost is specific to SpaceX – Tuesday’s flight will be its seventh so far, making it the flagship of the fleet and the most re-flying Falcon 9 ever.

If successful, this 16th Starlink mission would mean that SpaceX has launched about 960 internet-transmitting satellites so far, although there are currently fewer than 850 satellites in operation due to planned orbiting cancellations or malfunctions. Flat satellites orbit the Earth at an altitude of about 350 miles.

Tuesday’s launch also strengthens SpaceX’s positioning in the world of satellite internet, which is just starting to take shape for the company that plans to eventually offer global coverage. Some clients residing in the United States and Canada – mainly in northern states like Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Maine – have already received invitations to join the constellation.

Although the constellation is not as competitive in speed as terrestrial internet, it provides much faster speeds than legacy satellite networks at a lower cost – a welcome change for customers who work in remote areas or who live in cabins, for example.

If invited, customers in those northern latitudes pay a one-time fee of $ 499 for a 19-inch satellite dish and wireless router. The service itself costs $ 99 per month.

Moses Yarborough

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