SpaceX Postpones Starlink Satellite Launch Due to Tropical Storm Arthur
SpaceX is delaying its next Starlink mission until after the historic Crew Dragon flight as Tropical Storm Arthur creates unsafe conditions for rocket recovery.
SpaceX postpones the launch of up to 60 Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral due to Tropical Storm Arthur. The storm brings high winds and rough seas to the downrange Atlantic Ocean recovery zone, making it unsafe for the company's drone ship to support a landing. The mission, originally slated for Sunday morning, faces multiple delays after a scheduling conflict with a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket.
The delayed Starlink flight carries a Falcon 9 first stage booster that already flies four times. SpaceX plans to land this reusable booster on the drone ship named "Of Course I Still Love You" so engineers can inspect it for potential future missions. However, the approach of the severe weather system forces the company to stand down from the attempt.
The Starlink satellite deployment now waits until after SpaceX launches its first crewed mission later this month. This historic Crew Dragon flight, known as Demo-2, remains the top priority for the company as it prepares to send NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. Once the crew launch concludes successfully, SpaceX resumes its aggressive schedule of building out the Starlink broadband constellation.