SpaceX gears up for next Starlink satellite megaconstellation launch

SpaceX has fired up the rocket booster that will ferry the company's fourth batch of Starlink satellites into space. 

Just over 24 hours after SpaceX aced an in-flight abort test of its Crew Dragon spacecraft, the company conducted a static-fire test of a Falcon 9 rocket at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, Space.com reports, citing the company’s Twitter page.

That rocket was expected to send 60 Starlink internet satellites into space no earlier than Tuesday (Jan. 21), marking a potential 24-hour turnaround time between testing and launch. 

The Falcon 9 rolled out of its hangar early Monday morning (Jan. 20) and went vertical on the launch pad in advance of a planned test-firing of its nine first stage engines that same day. The two-stage rocket was slated for liftoff on Tuesday morning, in what would be the third launch of the year from Cape Canaveral. However, due to rough weather conditions SpaceX has not yet finalized the launch date.

But before SpaceX can launch the new Starlink fleet, the company wanted to make sure the Falcon 9 is up for the task and put the vehicle through a routine launch rehearsal. 

Monday's brief test, known as a static-fire test, is a standard part of prelaunch procedures and one of the last major milestones before liftoff. During the test, teams loaded the Falcon’s super-chilled propellants — kerosene and liquid oxygen — into the rocket before igniting the first stage’s nine Merlin 1D engines. 

The engines briefly fired at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT), generating more than 1 million pounds of thrust while the booster remained firmly on the ground. SpaceX confirmed the test was completed, but didn’t immediately set a launch date and time. 

"Static fire of Falcon 9 complete ahead of launching 60 Starlink satellites," SpaceX tweeted shortly after the test. "Due to extreme weather in the recovery area, team is evaluating best launch opportunity."