SpaceX and ULA Prepare for Double Launch Night
SpaceX, which has led most of this year’s launches, is joining forces with United Launch Alliance for a rare double launch event that could tie the Space Coast’s annual record for orbital missions.
Both companies are readying their rockets less than two miles apart at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, setting the stage for an impressive evening of back-to-back liftoffs.
SpaceX Falcon 9: Starlink 6-81 Mission
The first launch of the night features SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 6-81 mission, deploying 29 satellites from Space Launch Complex 40. The launch window runs from 6:08 to 10:08 p.m.
This flight marks the fifth use of the first-stage booster, which is targeted to land on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
ULA Atlas V: ViaSat-3 F2 Mission
Following shortly after, ULA will lift off its Atlas V rocket carrying the ViaSat-3 F2 communications satellite. The mission is scheduled from Space Launch Complex 41 with a launch time of 10:24 p.m., opening a 44-minute window.
“While SpaceX has managed the lion's share of launches this year, it's set to be a team effort with United Launch Alliance as the two companies have lined up a pair of launches that would tie the annual record for orbital missions from the Space Coast.”
Editorial Review
Edited by Sadie Harley and reviewed by Andrew Zinin. The article has undergone Science X’s editorial process to ensure accuracy and reliability of all technical details.
Author’s summary: SpaceX and ULA are set for a rare tandem launch from Cape Canaveral that could match the all-time record for Space Coast orbital missions this year.