SpaceX Launches Falcon 9 to Expand Starlink Network from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX is set to launch its **Falcon 9** rocket from **Cape Canaveral** in the early hours of **October 7, 2023**, continuing its ambitious expansion of the **Starlink** satellite internet network. The launch is scheduled for **1:59 a.m. EST** (0659 UTC) from **Space Launch Complex 40** at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission will mark the ninth of up to eleven planned Starlink launches this month and the **109th Starlink delivery** for the Falcon 9 rocket in 2023.

The **45th Weather Squadron** predicts optimal launch conditions, reporting a less than five-percent chance of adverse weather. Live coverage of the launch will commence one hour prior to liftoff.

Mission Details and Objectives

After its ascent, the Falcon 9 will execute a series of maneuvers, pitching and rolling to achieve a south-easterly trajectory. This trajectory will allow the rocket to deploy **29 Starlink V2 satellites** into an orbit inclined at 43 degrees to the Equator. The first stage booster, designated **B1090**, is relatively new and will be making its ninth flight during this mission.

Following the separation from the Falcon 9’s second stage at an altitude of approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers), B1090 will continue its ascent over the Atlantic Ocean, crossing the **Karman line**, the boundary of space. The booster will then return to Earth, landing on the drone ship **A Shortfall of Gravitas**.

The second stage of the Falcon 9 will ignite its engines for roughly six minutes, placing the Starlink satellites into a parking orbit. Approximately 45 minutes into the flight, the second stage will circularize its orbit with a brief burn of its **Merlin Vacuum engine**. The satellites are expected to separate into a **170×162 mile** (274×261 km) orbit one hour and five minutes after launch.

Future Launches and Expanding Connectivity

In addition to this mission, another **28 Starlink satellites** are scheduled for launch from the West Coast on the following day, October 8, 2023. This ongoing series of launches reinforces SpaceX’s commitment to enhancing global internet connectivity through its expanding satellite constellation.

SpaceX’s Starlink service aims to provide high-speed internet access to underserved and remote areas around the world. With over **9,000 satellites** already planned for deployment, the company is rapidly transforming the landscape of satellite-based internet services.