by Chris Tobias
It’s been a bit quiet on the launch front for SpaceX these past few months, but when a Falcon 9 breaks atmo with its next set of 60 Starlink broadband network satellites this week, Elon Musk and company will return to the black with yet another milestone mission.
image courtesy The Space Store
The Starlink launch that is scheduled NET November 11 will mark the first time that a SpaceX mission will employ a reusable payload fairing. The fairing for the upcoming mission last launched with the Falcon Heavy on April 11 of this year.
And if that’s not impressive enough, SpaceX confirmed last month that the upcoming Starlink mission would also be the company’s first to fly a Falcon 9 first-stage booster for a fourth time.
The Starlink mission is scheduled to liftoff Monday, November 11 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, with a launch window that opens at 9:56 a.m. EST (14:56 UTC) and will remain viable for eleven minutes. If necessary, a backup launch opportunity is available on Tuesday, November 12 at 9:34 a.m. EST (14:34 UTC).
SpaceX’s President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said in September that the company plans as many as 24 Starlink launches next year, with the eventual goal of providing broadband satellite coverage to all populated areas of the globe.
For those who would like to watch this launch in real time, SpaceX’s webcast of the mission should go live approximately 20 minutes before liftoff on the company’s YouTube channel and at spacex.com.
Peace, love and rockets…
Take Back the Sky 
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