SpaceX and ULA Prepare for Double Launch Night
While SpaceX has dominated this year's launches, it will join forces with United Launch Alliance (ULA) for a rare double launch night from the Space Coast, tying the annual record for orbital missions.
Launch Details
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SpaceX Falcon 9 – Starlink 6-81 Mission
Launching from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, this mission will carry 29 Starlink satellites. The launch window opens at 6:08 p.m. and closes at 10:08 p.m.
This marks the fifth flight of the booster’s first stage, which will attempt a recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.
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ULA Atlas V – ViaSat-3 F2 Mission
Scheduled to launch at 10:24 p.m. from Space Launch Complex 41, ULA’s mission will begin the opening of a 44-minute launch 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.
Both rockets stand less than two miles apart on their respective launch pads, ready for liftoff in the evening from Cape Canaveral.
Editorial Information
Article edited by Sadie Harley and reviewed by Andrew Zinin following Science X's editorial standards to ensure content credibility.
Author's summary: SpaceX and ULA will each launch rockets from Cape Canaveral in one evening, matching the record for the most annual Orbital missions from the Space Coast.