SpaceX, ULA plan rocket launches Thursday morning from Cape Canaveral
UPI

SpaceX, ULA plan rocket launches Thursday morning from Cape Canaveral

Two rocket launches with satellites by Space X and United Launch Alliance are scheduled for Thursday morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Central Florida.

United Launch Alliance prepares its Atlas rocket to launch a payload of Kuiper satellites for Amazon on Thursday from Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI UPI United Launch Alliance's Atlas rocket on Wednesday is on Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI UPI United Launch Alliance is planning to launch another batch of satellites for Amazon aboard an Atlas rocket. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI UPI The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 28 Starlink satellites at 6:53 a.m. Sunday from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI UPI

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Two rocket launches with satellites by Space X and United Launch Alliance are scheduled for Thursday morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Central Florida.

SpaceX is scheduled to lift off at 4:36 EDT with a Falcon 9 rocket taking 28 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 40. There is a four-hour launch window. This is the 22nd flight scheduled for the first-stage booster, which is scheduled to land on the droneship A ShortFall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, SpaceX said.

At 8:09 a.m., a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled to lift from Launch Complex 41 with 27 satellites to be deployed in a low-Earth orbit. The launch window is 29 minutes, ULA said. Its satellites are for the Amazon Kuiper constellation project "to provide fast, reliable internet to customers around the world, including those in unserved and underserved communities," the company said.

...

There is a 90% chance of "go for launch" for the two launches, according to the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron.

Because of the Atlas V's 205-foot height, visibility from most of Florida and other adjacent states is possible, depending on weather.

ULA has launched two other satellite payloads for Amazon: April 28 and June 23.

The two private companies have drastically different satellites above Earth.

Starlink has 8,460 functioning satellites, according to Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Project Kuiper will have 129 satellites after Thursday's deployment, though there are plans for 3,200 using eight Atlas V and 38 Vulcan rockets. ULA is joint venture with Lockheed Martin and Boeing formed in 2006.

SpaceX is also planning to launch 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 6:47 p.m. PDT Thursday

On Wednesday morning, SpaceX launched a trio of spacecraft each meant to study the sun and space weather, and their effects on Earth. The Falcon 9 rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida around 7:30 a.m. EDT.

Recommended for You

USDA plans trade mission to Taiwan to boost agriculture exports
UPI

USDA plans trade mission to Taiwan to boost agriculture exports

News
Lincoln Riley is deploying two tight ends regularly to power run game
Los Angeles Times

Lincoln Riley is deploying two tight ends regularly to power run game

News
Report: Former FBI Director James Comey likely to be indicted
UPI

Report: Former FBI Director James Comey likely to be indicted

News
Ryder Cup banter and blunders get started at Bethpage without a shot being hit
AP News

Ryder Cup banter and blunders get started at Bethpage without a shot being hit

News
Harris faces protesters, condemns Israel's war in Gaza on first night of book tour
AP News

Harris faces protesters, condemns Israel's war in Gaza on first night of book tour

News
Federal judge refuses to reinstate eight former inspectors general fired by Trump administration
AP News

Federal judge refuses to reinstate eight former inspectors general fired by Trump administration

News
Trump says he was victim of 'triple sabotage' at UN and Secret Service is looking into the matter
AP News

Trump says he was victim of 'triple sabotage' at UN and Secret Service is looking into the matter

News
Trump’s attacks on Kimmel and ABC put him at odds with high-profile conservatives
Los Angeles Times

Trump’s attacks on Kimmel and ABC put him at odds with high-profile conservatives

News
Leader of Belarus opposition warns Trump: Beware of her nation's president
AP News

Leader of Belarus opposition warns Trump: Beware of her nation's president

News
Sarah Ferguson dropped from British charities over Epstein email
UPI

Sarah Ferguson dropped from British charities over Epstein email

News
SEC unveils league matchups for the next four seasons and keeps most rivalries intact
AP News

SEC unveils league matchups for the next four seasons and keeps most rivalries intact

News
Diesel ditches the runway to present latest collection on models inside transparent Easter eggs
AP News

Diesel ditches the runway to present latest collection on models inside transparent Easter eggs

News
Gilgo Beach killer suspect Rex Heuermann to face one trial
UPI

Gilgo Beach killer suspect Rex Heuermann to face one trial

News
Trump picks Miami location for his future presidential library
UPI

Trump picks Miami location for his future presidential library

News
Cubs 3B Shaw says he's 'not concerned at all' about backlash for attending Charlie Kirk memorial
AP News

Cubs 3B Shaw says he's 'not concerned at all' about backlash for attending Charlie Kirk memorial

News