SpaceX has postponed its launch of a record-breaking batch of Starlink satellites until Monday due to a plane entering the restricted area 11 seconds before liftoff. The delayed mission, carrying 27 second-generation Starlinks, will now lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The new Starlinks feature improved capabilities, including a new backhaul antenna and upgraded avionics. They are also lighter, allowing SpaceX to launch more satellites per mission. This batch marks the first time 27 satellites have been launched in one go.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at 7:13 a.m. PST on Monday. The rocket’s first stage booster, B1082, will launch for its 10th time and is one of four boosters still in use that has only launched from the West Coast.
If successful, B1082 will land on the SpaceX droneship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ after approximately eight minutes into the mission. This would mark the 117th booster landing on OCISLY and the 399th booster landing to date.
The Starlink 11-8 mission is expected to send more satellites into orbit, with a focus on expanding coverage, increasing speeds, and lowering latency for its 4.6 million active customers worldwide.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/01/18/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-27-starlink-satellites-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-california