SpaceX is preparing for a rocket launch Tuesday night from Florida's Space Coast, aiming to add more satellites to its orbiting Starlink constellation. The company's Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The launch window opens at 8:22 p.m. EDT (00:22 UTC Wednesday). The target payload for this launch is 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites, intended for deployment into low Earth orbit.
This mission, known as Starlink 6-93, marks the latest step in building out the global internet service network. The satellites will join the growing constellation, which includes thousands already operating in orbit.
SpaceX plans to use the Falcon 9 first stage booster, designated B1085, for the flight. This will be the booster's seventh trip to space. Its previous missions included launches for NASA, Firefly Aerospace, and earlier Starlink deployments.
Following stage separation, the booster is expected to attempt a landing on the autonomous droneship 'Just Read the Instructions', positioned downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. Successful recovery efforts contribute to SpaceX's practice of reusing rocket hardware. SpaceX has achieved numerous booster landings to date.
Weather conditions are forecast to be favorable for the launch attempt Tuesday night. Forecasters predict an 85 percent chance of acceptable weather during the scheduled window.
The Starlink constellation continues to expand rapidly. As of early May, SpaceX had launched over 8,400 Starlink satellites.