File: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to launch the Starlink 7-14 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Image: SpaceX
SpaceX is preparing for its 12th Starlink mission of the year so far with a Falcon 9 rocket launch set for Wednesday morning from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The Starlink 17-34 mission will add another 24 broadband internet satellites to the growing low Earth orbit constellation.
Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4 East is scheduled for 6:14:40 a.m. PST (9:14:40 a.m. EST / 1414:40 UTC). The rocket will fly on a southerly trajectory upon leaving the pad.
Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about 30 minutes prior to liftoff.
SpaceX will launch the mission using the Falcon 9 booster with the tail number 1100. This will be its third flight after previously launching the Starlink 11-30 and NROL-105 missions.
Nearly 8.5 minutes after liftoff B1100 will target a landing on the drone ship, ‘Of Course I Still Love You,’ positioned in the Pacific Ocean. If successful, this will be the 177th landing on this vessel and the 569th booster landing for SpaceX.