SpaceX was supposed to launch its next batch of Starlink satellite fleet on July 11, but the company announced a change of plans citing the need for more checks on Falcon 9.
57 Starlink satellites and two BlackSky Global Earth-observing satellites were scheduled to launch from Florida Saturday as part of a rideshare mission. However, SpaceX suddenly announced on Twitter it was canceling the launch merely an hour before takeoff. A new launch date is yet to be announced.
"Standing down from today's launch of the tenth Starlink mission to allow time for more checkouts," SpaceX wrote on Twitter. "Team is working to identify the next launch opportunity. Will announce a new target launch date once confirmed with the Range."
The satellites will be carried by Falcon 9, which already has four flights to boast. Called B1051 by SpaceX, the booster was scheduled to make its fifth space trip after sending two batches of Starlink earlier this year as well as the first Crew Dragon test flight and a trio of Earth-observing satellites for Canada last year.
Aside from Starlink satellites, SpaceX is ferrying to BlackSky Global satellites. This mission is part of an arrangement made by Spaceflight, a company that helps small satellites get a ride to space.
Saturday's delay wasn't actually the first for the 57 satellites -- it's been the third time the launch for this mission had been scrapped. The original schedule was June 26, but SpaceX had to postpone it, citing more preflight checks. The launch was again scheduled on July 8 but was canceled again due to the weather. The U.S. Space Force's 45th Space Wing weather squadron has already cleared Saturday's weather, predicting a 60% chance of favorable weather conditions.
While SpaceX hasn't announced the new launch date yet, it's possible for back-to-back launches next week, considering another launch is already being prepared.
SpaceX is set to launch the Anasis 2 communications satellite on July 14. As of writing, there no change of plans has been announced. If necessary, the 45th Space Wing and Eastern Range are capable of a 24-hour turnaround between launches. But it will all depend on the company's decision and of course, Falcon 9's condition.
The Starlink/BlackSky launch is the tenth mission for Starlink and the first batch of SpaceX's broadband satellites equipped with a sunshade to reduce their brightness. This new batch would have brought the company close to 600 active satellites.
