SpaceX scrubs Friday launch attempt of Starlink satellites [Updated]
A Falcon 9 rocket is ready to go for its 10th Starlink mission. [credit: Trevor Mahlmann ]
1:45pm ET Friday Update: SpaceX has scrubbed its Starlink launch attempt for Friday. The company announced the delay by saying on Twitter, "Standing down from today's Starlink mission; team needed additional time for pre-launch checkouts, but Falcon 9 and the satellites are healthy. Will announce new target launch date once confirmed on the Range."
Original post: SpaceX is preparing for its 10th launch of Starlink satellites on Friday afternoon. The launch on board a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida is scheduled for 4:18pm ET (20:18 UTC). The weather outlook for Friday's launch attempt is favorable.
On this 10th launch, it's worth stepping back to realize that, in addition to developing reusable rockets, two different Dragon spacecraft, and working on its ambitious Starship project, SpaceX has also built 600 satellites in the last couple of years. And these are not small CubeSats-each of the Starlink satellites weighs 260kg and has its own on-board propulsion system. This is a pretty remarkable new production capability.
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