SpaceX is preparing for its next Falcon 9 rocket launch, which will add another 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to its megaconstellation in low Earth orbit.
The Starlink 11-17 mission will fly on a south-easterly trajectory upon departure from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4 East is scheduled for 8:54 p.m. PDT (11:54 p.m. EDT / 0354 UTC).
Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about 30 minutes prior to liftoff.
SpaceX will launch this mission using the Falcon 9 booster with the tail number B1071. This is the second-most flown booster and this will be its 29th flight.
It’s previous missions include NASA’s SWOT, five missions for the National Reconnaissance Office and four ride share missions (three Transporter and one Bandwagon).
Nearly 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1071 will target an autonomous landing on the drone ship, ‘Of Course I Still Love You.’ If successful, this will be the 156th landing on this vessel and the 516th booster landing to date.
