SpaceX to launch 22 Starlink satellites tonight in 1st of back-to-back missions

SpaceX is scheduled to launch 22 Starlink satellites tonight, October 8, 2023, at 10:21 p.m. EDT (0221 UTC) from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This will be the first of two back-to-back Starlink launches for SpaceX, with the second launch scheduled for early Thursday morning from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

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The Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX's constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that provide high-speed internet access to users around the world. The company has already launched over 4,700 Starlink satellites, and it plans to launch thousands more in the coming years.

Tonight's launch will be conducted using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket that is capable of launching satellites into orbit and returning to Earth to be reused.

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If all goes according to plan, the Falcon 9 will launch the 22 Starlink satellites into orbit about 65 minutes after liftoff. The satellites will then deploy from the rocket and begin their journey to their final positions in orbit.

SpaceX's Starlink constellation is already providing internet access to users in over 30 countries. The company plans to expand its coverage to even more countries in the coming months and years.

The back-to-back Starlink launches this week are part of SpaceX's effort to rapidly expand its Starlink constellation. The company is aiming to have over 10,000 Starlink satellites in orbit by the end of 2023.

Tonight's launch will be live-streamed on SpaceX's website and YouTube channel.