File: A Falcon 9 stands ready to launch the Starlink 12-5 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Image: Spaceflight Now.
SpaceX is preparing to launch its latest batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday morning.
The Starlink 12-16 mission will add another 23 Starlink Version 2 Mini satellites to the constellation of more than 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 is set for 7:35 a.m. EDT (1135 UTC).
Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about an hour prior to liftoff.
Heading into the launch opportunity, the 45th Weather Squadron forecast a greater than 95 percent chance for favorable weather at liftoff. The only concern are the liftoff winds, which are trending between 18 and 23 miles per hour.
SpaceX will use the Falcon 9 first stage booster, tail number B1078, to launch the mission. It will be launching for an 18th time after previous missions, like Crew-6, USSF-124 and 13 other Starlink flights.
A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, B1078 will target a landing on the droneship, ‘Just Read the Instructions.’ If successful, it will be the 112th booster landing on JRTI and the 419th booster landing to date.
Among the 23 Starlink satellites on board are 13 that feature direct to cell capabilities.