Sunday night's Starlink mission marked SpaceX's record-setting launch pace for the year
Jamie GrohA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off a Florida launch pad late Sunday night, taking another batch of the company's Starlink internet satellites along a southern trajectory that skirted along the state's east coast.
Nine Merlin main engines roared to life at 10:47 p.m. EDT, boosting the more than million-pound rocket off of pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center with another batch of 21 Starlink internet-beaming satellites.
The first stage Falcon 9 booster, landing on a drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean about eight minutes after liftoff, completed its tenth flight to space and back.
Sunday's 46th launch from the Space Coast this year was also a record-breaker for SpaceX.
SpaceX's record-breaking pace:
The mission dubbed Starlink 6-12 was the company's 62nd launch this year from across its four launch pads in Florida, California, and Texas, including the first liftoff of the company's prototype Starship and Super Heavy vehicle in April.
Already surpassing SpaceX's all-time record of 61 flights set last year, the company isn't expected to slow the launch cadence with the four months still remaining in 2023.
Yet more Starlink batches and missions for other customers are set to fly on Falcon 9s from Florida and California, while a triple-core Falcon Heavy rocket is slated to launch NASA's Psyche spacecraft to study a metal-rich asteroid from Kennedy Space Center in October.
Rocket launch schedule:Upcoming Florida launches and landings
In Texas, SpaceX teams are working toward the second attempt at a suborbital test flight of the integrated Starship Super Heavy vehicle system, which could be possible sometime before the end of the year. Last week, teams completed a full-duration static fire engine test of the Super Heavy booster, a vital hurdle to clear before another launch attempt is set.
However, when that test will happen depends on clearance by the Federal Aviation Administration and the conclusion of the investigation into what caused the Starship's explosive end to its April demonstration flight.
Next launches from Florida:
Another SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying a batch of the company's Starlink internet-beaming satellites could launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station late this week, but the company hasn't yet announced a targeted liftoff date or time.
Meanwhile, United Launch Alliance is still working to identify the next opportunity to launch its second mission of the year on an Atlas V rocket from the Cape's Launch Complex 41.
Last week, the NROL-107 mission, a joint effort between the U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office, was grounded when ULA returned the rocket back to the protection of the company's vertical integration facility until Hurricane Idalia passed.
A new launch date for that mission hasn't yet been identified.
When these missions do launch, follow FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live launch coverage beginning 90 minutes before each liftoff. For the latest schedule updates, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Contact Jamie Groh at JGroh@floridatoday.com and follow her on X at @AlteredJamie.