SpaceX Launches Double Starlink Missions
## SpaceX Launches Double Starlink Missions in 24-Hour Period
SpaceX conducted two separate Starlink missions within a 24-hour period, marking a busy stretch for the company's launch operations. The first launch, Starlink 11-9, lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on April 20, deploying 27 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This launch was followed by a second mission, Starlink 6-74, which took place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on April 24.
The Starlink 6-74 mission, launched at 9:52 p.m. ET, saw a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 28 Starlink satellites successfully reach low Earth orbit. The first-stage booster, B1069, completed its 23rd launch, marking its 19th Starlink mission and landing on the "A Shortfall of Gravitas" droneship. This launch was SpaceX's 47th Falcon 9 mission and 30th Starlink launch of 2025. Weather conditions for the Florida launch were partly cloudy skies with mild east winds, according to the National Weather Service.
Another Falcon 9 launch, Starlink 12-23, was originally scheduled for Sunday, a different date not specified in the articles, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission utilized booster B1077 for its 20th launch, a veteran booster with a history including 12 Starlink missions, three International Space Station resupply flights, and a GPS 3 Space Vehicle launch. A 90% chance of favorable weather was initially forecast, although potential weather constraints involving cumulus and anvil clouds were noted. B1077 targeted a landing on the "Just Read the Instructions" droneship.
These back-to-back launches highlight SpaceX's ongoing expansion of its Starlink satellite internet constellation, which now includes over 7,000 satellites providing global broadband coverage, excluding polar regions. The company's rapid launch cadence underscores its ambition to dominate the burgeoning space-based internet market. SpaceX has also conducted other launches within this timeframe, including a Dragon resupply mission to the International Space Station and a rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral, showcasing a high volume of space activity.
SpaceX conducted two separate Starlink missions within a 24-hour period, marking a busy stretch for the company's launch operations. The first launch, Starlink 11-9, lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on April 20, deploying 27 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This launch was followed by a second mission, Starlink 6-74, which took place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on April 24.
The Starlink 6-74 mission, launched at 9:52 p.m. ET, saw a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 28 Starlink satellites successfully reach low Earth orbit. The first-stage booster, B1069, completed its 23rd launch, marking its 19th Starlink mission and landing on the "A Shortfall of Gravitas" droneship. This launch was SpaceX's 47th Falcon 9 mission and 30th Starlink launch of 2025. Weather conditions for the Florida launch were partly cloudy skies with mild east winds, according to the National Weather Service.
Another Falcon 9 launch, Starlink 12-23, was originally scheduled for Sunday, a different date not specified in the articles, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission utilized booster B1077 for its 20th launch, a veteran booster with a history including 12 Starlink missions, three International Space Station resupply flights, and a GPS 3 Space Vehicle launch. A 90% chance of favorable weather was initially forecast, although potential weather constraints involving cumulus and anvil clouds were noted. B1077 targeted a landing on the "Just Read the Instructions" droneship.
These back-to-back launches highlight SpaceX's ongoing expansion of its Starlink satellite internet constellation, which now includes over 7,000 satellites providing global broadband coverage, excluding polar regions. The company's rapid launch cadence underscores its ambition to dominate the burgeoning space-based internet market. SpaceX has also conducted other launches within this timeframe, including a Dragon resupply mission to the International Space Station and a rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral, showcasing a high volume of space activity.
