SpaceX is gearing up for two consecutive launches this week, with a Starlink mission scheduled for September 5, followed by the groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission on September 6. These launches mark SpaceX’s return to flight after resolving a Falcon 9 landing anomaly with FAA oversight.
SpaceX Cleared for Falcon 9 Launches After FAA Review, Set for Consecutive Starlink and Polaris Dawn Missions
SpaceX intends to launch its groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission on September 6 and a Starlink voyage on September 5, marking two significant launches on consecutive days this week.
This particular Starlink mission will be the first since SpaceX encountered an anomaly with its most recent Falcon 9 landing, which resulted in the first stage toppling. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)temporarily grounded SpaceX missions, necessitating an investigation.
In a statement published late last week, it subsequently elected to permit SpaceX to continue conducting Falcon 9 launches. The statement also indicated that an investigation would persist. Nevertheless, SpaceX would be capable of operating the first stages of the Falcon 9 rocket.
The FAA said in the statement:
“The SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle may return to flight operations while the overall investigation of the anomaly during the Starlink Group 8-6 mission remains open, provided all other license requirements are met. SpaceX made the return to flight request on August 29 and the FAA gave approval on August 30.”
Starlink Launch Rescheduled for September 5, Followed by Polaris Dawn Mission on September 6
The Starlink 8-11 mission was originally scheduled to launch today; however, it was postponed until September 5 and is now scheduled for liftoff at 8:35 a.m. EDT. SpaceX elected to postpone the launch due to "unfavorable booster recovery weather conditions in the Atlantic." The mission will be launched from platform 40 of the Space Launch Complex at Cape Canaveral, per Teslarati.
SpaceX is scheduled to launch the Polaris Dawn mission. The FAA has a launch window on September 6 from 3:33 a.m. to 7:38 a.m. A five-day mission will be launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, where the crew is in quarantine.
The Falcon 9 landing anomaly also resulted in the postponement and delay of this mission.