Those awake Saturday night are in for a treat, as SpaceX is planning a nighttime rocket launch.
SpaceX has yet to confirm, but the Federal Aviation Administration shows a launch window for the Starlink 6-72 mission occurring sometime between 10:40 p.m. Saturday night and 3:11 a.m. Sunday morning. Launch will be from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40. Upon liftoff, the rocket will travel on a southeast trajectory.
The Falcon 9 rocket will be carrying the latest batch of SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites, which provide internet in some of the most remote places on Earth.
While SpaceX usually favors the beginning of the allotted launch window, factors such as weather at the launch and booster landing sites play a role in timing.
Being a Starlink launch, no Central Florida sonic booms will be heard. Eight-and-half-minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9 first stage booster will land on a SpaceX drone ship out on the Atlantic Ocean.
When is the next Florida launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral
FLORIDA TODAY will provide live coverage of the launch beginning 90 minutes prior to liftoff at FloirdaToday.com/Space.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: What to know: SpaceX weekend rocket launch from Cape Canaveral set for Saturday night
Reporting by Brooke Edwards, Florida Today / Florida Today
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