Update at 12:18am EDT: SpaceX has confirmed it will deploy 22 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit.
11:39 PM EDT UPDATE: The Falcon 9 rocket launched the Starlink 6-14 mission carrying the first stage booster B1076 at 11:12 pm EDT (3:12 pm UTC), and the drone ship ” Landed on A Shortfall of Gravitas. The deployment of 22 of her Starlink V2 Mini satellites is expected to occur around 12:17 a.m. EDT (0417 UTC).
6:46 p.m. EDT Update:
SpaceX has adjusted the launch times for the Starlink 6-14 mission. It is currently targeting a T-0 launch at 11:12 pm EDT (3:12 am UTC on September 9). There is one more backup time in the launch window of 11:30 PM EDT (3:30 AM UTC September 9).
Original story:
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch 22 second-generation Starlink internet satellites from Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday night at 7:56 pm EDT (2356 UTC). Additional launch opportunities will be available at 11:12 PM EDT (3:12 UTC) and 11:30 PM EDT (3:30 UTC). The Falcon 9’s first stage booster lands on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. The booster is making its seventh flight.
Forecasts released Thursday indicate a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions for the first launch opportunity, improving to 85 percent for subsequent launch opportunities, according to the 45th Weather Squadron.
Live coverage from Cape Canaveral will begin approximately one hour before launch, with commentary from Spaceflight Now’s Will Robinson-Smith.