SpaceX and ULA Plan Back-to-Back Launches
This year, SpaceX has led most launches, but a collaboration with United Launch Alliance (ULA) will mark a joint effort to tie the annual record for orbital missions from the Space Coast.
Launch Details
- Two rockets, a SpaceX Falcon 9 and a ULA Atlas V, are positioned less than two miles apart at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, preparing for evening liftoff.
- SpaceX’s Falcon 9 will launch the Starlink 6-81 mission, carrying 29 satellites from Space Launch Complex 40. The launch window is 6:08–10:08 p.m.
- This mission marks the fifth flight of the Falcon 9’s first stage booster, which aims to land on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.
- Following SpaceX, ULA will launch the ViaSat-3 F2 mission from Space Launch Complex 41 at 10:24 p.m., starting a 44-minute launch window.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies to ensure content credibility.
Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Pads Ready
The two launch pads, at Space Launch Complexes 40 and 41, stand ready to send these payloads into orbit during a historic double launch night that could match the Space Coast’s annual record.
Mission Objectives
- Starlink 6-81 will expand SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation with 29 new satellites.
- ViaSat-3 F2 aims to enhance global broadband capabilities as part of ViaSat’s satellite network.
Author’s summary: SpaceX and ULA coordinate a rare double launch at Cape Canaveral, poised to tie the annual orbital mission record with back-to-back evening liftoffs.