Starlink launch with BlackSky ride share

1:12 AM est from LC-39A atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center.

For those keeping track, this was the ninth launch of Starlink satellites, but the tenth overall launch. Why you ask? Because the first launch was considered a demonstration launch, much like the DM-2 flight which is the first flight of astronauts from U.S. soil again, but the next flight will be considered Crew 1. Originally slated to launch on June 26th, SpaceX was forced to stand down needing further pre-launch checks. On July 8th foul weather forced them to once again stand down. Again on July 11th SpaceX needed more checks and called off the launch for the third an final time. The company decided to push the launch back in the cadence and on July 20th there was a South Koran satellite sent to orbit. They soon announced that August 7th would be the next attempt. Weather forecast by the 45th Space Wing held at 70% go and the engines ignited at 1:12:05 AM est sending the next batch of Starlink satellites into space.

Starlinks were the primary payload for this mission, with 57 in total, then stacked in the fairings above them were two satellites for the company BlackSky. This was also the first launch where every Starlink satellite was equipped with a sun visor that will be deployed to reduce reflections from the antennas down on Earth, thus making them more invisible in the dark skies and making it easier to see deeper into space. These visors should make the satellites completely invisible to the naked eye, and greatly reduce the brightness to astronomical observers.

Since the next launch will be the 10th operational launch we will go over the whole Starlink system again and explain all the details in case you've forgotten since my first article.