SpaceX Launch Scrubbed Again Today After Time
The Starlink 12-21 mission will carry 21 Starlink V2 Mini satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, into orbit, bringing SpaceX closer to achieving its objective of offering high-speed, low-latency internet services worldwide. With the launch rescheduled for Wednesday, SpaceX is poised to make its first flight since the post-landing fire incident, demonstrating its commitment to safety and innovation in the space industry.
SpaceX has scrubbed the launch of its Starlink 12-21 mission for the second consecutive night due to high ground-level winds, rescheduling it for Wednesday, with the aim of launching 21 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into orbit.
The mission, which will utilize a Falcon 9 first stage booster that has flown 21 times before, targets a landing on the droneship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" about 8 minutes after liftoff. This launch is SpaceX's first from Florida since the Starlink 12-20 mission and will mark the 101st booster landing for the droneship. Despite a recent fuel leak incident that caused the destruction of a Falcon 9 booster during the Starlink 12-20 mission, SpaceX has taken steps to address the issue, including inspecting the booster's engine bay and conducting "sniff" checks without any indication of leaks.
The launch was initially delayed due to the incident on March 2, where a fuel leak triggered a fire, compromising the booster's structural integrity. SpaceX and NASA have reviewed the incident, with NASA conducting an independent evaluation. Although the root cause of the leak remains under review, there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the launch, according to SpaceX. NASA has also cleared the Crew-10 mission to launch on Wednesday, despite the unresolved issue.
As SpaceX moves forward with the Starlink 12-21 mission, engineers continue to work on identifying the source of the fuel leak, aiming to prevent such incidents in the future. The success of this launch will be crucial for SpaceX, marking a significant step towards its goal of providing global internet connectivity through its Starlink satellite constellation.
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