SpaceX is targeting Thursday, December 12 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, December 12 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 11:39 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 2:58 a.m. ET on Wednesday, December 13. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Wednesday, December 13 starting at 11:07 p.m. ET.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.

This is the third flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched the Crew-7 and CRS-29 missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

COUNTDOWN
HR/MIN/SEC EVENT
00:38:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
00:35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
00:35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
00:16:00 2nd stage LOX loading begins
00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff
Infographic detailing sequence of events for Starlink Mission
LAUNCH, LANDING, AND DEPLOYMENT
All times are approximate

HR/MIN/SEC EVENT
00:01:12 Max Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:30 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:34 1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:40 2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:03:10 Fairing deployment
00:06:14 1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:32 1st stage entry burn ends
00:08:06 1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:28 1st stage landing
00:08:44 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:54:09 2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:54:11 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:05:27 Starlink satellites deploy