SpaceX Falcon 9 set for ride-share launch from Cape Canaveral today

SpaceX looks to make its 22nd launch in 21 weeks this year with another ride-share flight with several customers from the Space Coast today.

A Falcon 9 on the Transporter-5 mission is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex-40 with a 57-minute window that opens at 2:27 p.m.

The Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45′s weather squadron updated its good weather forecast this morning with only a 10% chance of violating constraints. The polar trajectory of the launch means a larger safety zone for boaters and aircraft, SLD 45 warned. That means the rocket will fly along Florida’s East Coast over the ocean and cities farther south may get a better view than normal.

This launch’s first-stage booster is flying for the eighth time, having been previously used on Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, one Starlink mission and Transporter-4. The company will attempt another recovery on the Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at CCSFS.

The transporter missions for SpaceX are open to small satellites from multiple companies. Customers on this flight include a demonstration mission from Nanoracks on cutting metal in space and viability of reusing discarded spacecraft. Also flying up is an OmniTeq communications satellite within which will be the ashes of more than 40 people organized by the company Celestis. The rocket is bringing 59 spacecraft this time around.

SpaceX is on pace to blow away the record of 31 launches it performed in 2021, with CEO Elon Musk saying it could even shoot for 60 this year.

Most of its launches have been to bring more Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit as part of its growing constellation of internet satellites. It’s also launched two missions with humans on board its Crew Dragons from KSC this year with the next flight set for September.

Also coming up is a Falcon Heavy mission to send a probe to the asteroid Psyche, now targeting no earlier than Sept. 20.

This marks the 160th launch for the company since 2008, and if its booster lands would be the 122nd successful recovery.