WATCH LIVE TODAY: Starlink Mission all set to take off today

US private space agency SpaceX is targeting Friday, August 7 at 1:12 a.m. EDT, 5:12 UTC, for launch of its tenth Starlink mission which will include 57 Starlink satellites and 2 satellites from BlackSky, a Spaceflight customer.

The standard vehicle Falcon 9 will lift off from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In case you miss the event, a backup opportunity is available on Saturday, August 8 at 12:50 a.m. EDT, 4:50 UTC.

You can watch the launch webcast here, starting about 15 minutes before liftoff.

Sequential Deployment

Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported Crew Dragon’s first demonstration mission to the International Space Station, launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, and the fourth and seventh Starlink missions. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

The BlackSky Global spacecraft will deploy sequentially beginning 1 hour and 1 minute after liftoff, and the Starlink satellites will deploy approximately 1 hour and 33 minutes after liftoff. Starlink satellites will be deployed in a circular orbit, as was done on the first through fourth Starlink missions.

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast is favorable for SpaceX’s Friday early hours launch from Kennedy Space Center, the Space Force said Wednesday. “The primary weather concern for launch day will be mid- and upper-level clouds streaming across the region from the south along with cumulus clouds over the nearshore waters,” 45th Weather Squadron forecasters said on Wednesday.

The 10th Starlink launch has been delayed nearly 10 times due to technical hurdles so far and several attempts in June and July were rolled back for additional hardware work. Today’s launch will be the booster’s fifth flight.

All Starlink satellites  on this flight are equipped with a deployable visor to block sunlight from hitting the brightest spots of the spacecraft – a measure SpaceX has taken as part of their work with leading astronomical groups to mitigate satellite reflectivity.