SpaceX has pushed back its planned launch time due to an active period of solar activity, which it hopes will help launch 23 Starlink satellites on Monday morning.
The mission, known as the Starlink 12-19 mission, is now set for liftoff at 1:24 a.m. EDT (0524 UTC), about eight minutes after its original planned time. The launch team is preparing for liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
On Sunday, the 45th Weather Squadron forecasted a 75% chance of favorable weather at liftoff, but warns that lingering moisture and rogue showers could produce cumulus clouds and surface electric field violations. Additionally, space weather is a concern due to a massive Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that erupted from the Sun on Friday and triggered a geomagnetic storm.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center declared the storm ‘G4 (Severe)’ and warned of potential issues with spacecraft, including “surface charging and tracking problems” and “corrections may be needed for orientation problems.” SpaceX has experienced difficulties with Starlink satellites in the past, including a 2022 incident where up to 40 satellites reentered prematurely due to increased atmospheric drag.
Despite these challenges, the mission is expected to proceed as planned. The Falcon 9 first stage booster 1077 will launch the 21st flight of this rocket, which has previously launched missions like NASA’s Crew-5 and GPS III Space Vehicle 06.
SpaceX aims to land the booster on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean about eight minutes after liftoff. The mission will also deploy 23 Starlink satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capabilities, marking the 635th launch of these satellites.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/06/01/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-23-starlink-satellites-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-cape-canaveral-11