(Update: Launched) SpaceX targets Friday for back-to-back Falcon 9 launches

SpaceX is targeting Friday, April 5, for two Falcon 9 launches of Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Florida and California.

The first Falcon 9 launch is set to take place from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission will send 23 Starlink satellites into orbit, with a liftoff time targeted for 5:12 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).

The first stage booster supporting this Starlink mission has previously facilitated the deployment of CRS-24, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, OneWeb 1, SES-18 and SES-19, and nine Starlink satellites. This mission will be its 14th flight and after stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

The second Falcon 9 rocket will launch 21 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This launch, targeting a 7:31 p.m. PT liftoff, will carry 21 Starlink satellites into orbit, six of which are equipped with Direct to Cell capabilities.

For the unversed, Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities provide seamless access to text, voice, and data for LTE phones across the globe, be it on land, lakes, or coastal waters

This first-stage booster has previously supported several missions including Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, Transporter-10, and a previous Starlink mission. Post-stage separation, it will attempt a landing on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

A live webcast for both launches will be available on X @SpaceX, beginning five minutes before the scheduled launch time.

On April 3, our Swift Observatory resumed science operations following a successful software update, which enables the spacecraft to function using only two gyros. The spacecraft otherwise remains in good health. Learn more: https://t.co/14bXl6qwd6 pic.twitter.com/Fwd7msUce4

— NASA Universe (@NASAUniverse) April 4, 2024

Update 1

Falcon 9 successfully launched and deployed the Starlink satellites into orbit.

View of last night's deployment of 21 @Starlink satellites, six of which have Direct to Cell capabilities that help eliminate mobile network dead zones around the world → https://t.co/RV4c2XquT0 pic.twitter.com/LSdTy500XT

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 7, 2024