SpaceX sent another 23 Starlink satellites to orbit early this evening from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was at 6:17 PM EDT, right at the opening of today’s launch window.

Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the booster used tonight’ – B1078 — completed its ninth mission successfully when it touched down safely on the Automated Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS) ‘Just Read The Instructions’ which was stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of the Bahamas.

Around an hour after liftoff, the satellites were deployed successfully, making this mission a success.

Booster B1078

This was the ninth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and six Starlink missions.

B0178 will return to Port Canaveral in a few days aboard ‘Just Read The Instructions’, and will be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center, for inspection, reconditioning, and preparation for its next flight at some future date to be determined.

Booster B1078
Flight Number	Payload	Date
1	Crew-6	March 2, 2023
2	O3b mPOWER 3 & 4	April 28, 2023
3	Starlink 6-4	June 4, 2023
4	Starlink 6-8	August 7, 2023
5	Starlink 6-16	September 16, 2023
6	Starlink 6-31	December 3, 2023
7	USSF-124	February 14, 2024
8	Starlink 6-46	March 25, 2024
9	Starlink 6-53	April 23, 2024

Next Launch

SpaceX plans to launch two satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation system NET April 27, 2024 from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.

• Date: NET April 27, 2024
• Organization: SpaceX
• Mission: Galileo
• Rocket: Falcon 9
• Launch Site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center
• Launch Time: 08:34 PM – 09:11 PM EDT
• Payload: Two communications satellites

Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed anytime due to weather, technical reasons, or range conditions.