The live webcast that was planned to provide the entire planet with access to watch the launch in space of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 60 internet satellites of the Starlink mega-constellation was sadly postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions. More specifically, the winds were dangerously strong. The revised date of the launching and, respectively of the webcast, was announced to be May 16th. But, the problems keep on coming for SpaceX, and the company delayed the launch for about one week.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch was set for May 16th, at 10:30 p.m. (EDT), timespan throughout which we should have been able to watch the takeoff of the Falcon 9 spacecraft along with the 60 satellites it carries, through either Space.com or even directly through the spaceflight company.
SpaceX founder, Elon Musk, released a photo in a Twitter post from last weekend showing the 60 space crafts conglomerated inside the Falcon 9, as well as an image showing its battery electric vehicle sports car Tesla, that seemed really small inside its fairing. This photo was taken shortly before it was launched on the SpaceX’s primary test flight, back in February 2018.
SpaceX Postponed the Launch of the Falcon 9 Rocket With 60 Starlink Satellites Aboard Once Again
Musk also stated that although 14 days subsequent to the Falcon Heavy mission Tintin A and Tintin B (Starlink models) were launched as back-up payloads on a Falcon 9 flight, the rockets that is about to leave ground tonight are “production-design”. Also, should everything go as planned, SpaceX is prepared to launch an incredible number of 12,000 satellites for the mega constellation, which will have the purpose to provide accessible internet for individuals living all around the globe.
The plan subsequent to the events happening tonight is to launch 60 more satellite payloads to achieve “minor coverage” and, after that, another 6 have to be lofted in order to achieve “moderate coverage.” Along with SpaceX, a number of other companies have similar plans of constructing new independent mega-constellations to serve a similar purpose, such as OneWeb or Blue Origin.
According to the latest news, SpaceX Falcon 9 launch that would’ve carried 60 internet satellites of the Starlink mega-constellation was postponed once again for about one week.
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