SpaceX to launch 2nd batch of satellites
January 16, 2020
By Chris Forrester
SpaceX’s Florida launch team are only just recovering from their January 6th work when 60 ‘Starlink’ satellites were sent into Low Earth orbit. They are gearing up for sending another 60 into orbit next week.
Currently, the plan is to launch around January 20th, which itself will be barely two days after the launch of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule (the one where the Falcon 9 rocket will be deliberately exploded to test the emergency recovery of the capsule).
This next Starlink launch is part of Elon Musk’s overall plan to use around 20 launches this year for the Starlink mega-constellation and as part of a mission series that with commercial and NASA launches could top 35 or more this year.
SpaceX’s two teams are working almost closely together at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Launch Pad 39A will be used for the Falcon/Crew Dragon launch, while Launch Pad 40 will handle the Starlink business.