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5 Falcon 9 missions are scheduled to launch this week, together with the first-ever crewed mission to a polar orbit and several other Starlink missions. Internationally, China is predicted to launch two missions.
The week kicked off with Falcon 9 launching Starlink Group 6-80 into low-Earth orbit on Monday. Roughly six hours later, SpaceX’s subsequent personal human spaceflight mission, Fram2, lifted off from Florida. Then, on April 1, China launched its Chang Zheng 2D rocket, adopted by Chang Zheng 6, which launched on April 3. SpaceX efficiently launched and landed Starlink Group 11-13 later that night. Lastly, SpaceX will shut out the week with the launch of two Falcon 9s for the Starlink Group 6-72 and Starlink Group 11-11 missions on April 5 and April 7, respectively.
Falcon 9 | Starlink Group 6-80
SpaceX began the week with the launch of Starlink Group 6-80 from House Launch Complicated 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral House Power Station (CCSFS) in Florida. Falcon 9 lifted off at 3:52 PM EDT (19:52 UTC) on March 31 after a scrub on March 30 that halted the mission just below 40 minutes earlier than launch. Booster B1080 carried 28 Starlink v2 Mini Optimized satellites on a southeastern trajectory to a 275 by 285 km orbit inclined 43 levels.
The appetizer earlier than the primary course, a Falcon 9 carrying the Starlink 6-80 mission with a document 28 v2 mini satellites!
Subsequent up: Fram2 sending crew round Earth’s poles. pic.twitter.com/Esck2YlEyF
— Sawyer R. (@thenasaman) March 31, 2025
This was the primary time Optimized Starlink satellites have been launched from the East Coast. This was B1080’s seventeenth flight following a 41-day turnaround for refurbishment and preparation for launch. After delivering the Starlink satellites, B1080 landed on SpaceX’s droneship Simply Learn the Directions stationed within the Atlantic Ocean.
The headline mission for this week is the Fram2 mission, which is the primary mission to take people to a 90-degree polar orbit from Florida, flying them immediately over the polar areas of Earth. The mission launched at 9:46 PM EDT on March 31 (1:46 UTC on April 1) from the historic Launch Complicated 39A (LC-39A) on the Kennedy House Heart in Florida.
Mission commander Chun Wang, car commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, pilot Rabea Rogge, and mission specialist and medical officer Eric Philips launched onboard Crew Dragon Resilience. This Crew Dragon beforehand supported the Crew 1, Inspiration4, and Polaris Daybreak missions earlier than Fram2.
Falcon 9 and Resilience on LC-39A forward of the Fram2 mission. (Credit score: Sawyer Rosenstein for NSF)
Falcon booster B1085 flew on this mission, marking its sixth mission to area. It launched towards Cuba earlier than touchdown downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. The second stage continued over Cuba and Panama, barely flying over the western fringe of South America on its technique to orbit.
A complete of twenty-two analysis experiments and research are anticipated to be performed in orbit throughout this mission. A few of these research embody taking the primary human X-ray pictures from area, analyzing how mushrooms develop in area, and varied human well being investigations and workout routines. This analysis may assist future missions higher perceive the consequences of long-duration spaceflight on the human physique and methods to preserve good well being whereas in microgravity.
Fram2 remained in orbit for almost 87 hours earlier than splashing down on April 4 at 12:22 PM EDT. Resilience landed within the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, the place SpaceX’s capsule restoration vessel, MV Shannon, retrieved the astronauts, concluding the Fram2 mission.
Chang Zheng 2D | SatNet Demo Satellites
China launched the primary of two missions this week from Website 9401 (SLS-2) on the Jiuquan Satellite tv for pc Launch Heart on April 1. The mission window opened at 3:52 UTC, and Chang Zheng 2D efficiently lifted off at 4:00 UTC as scheduled.
4 SatNet check satellites had been launched on a Chang Zheng 2D rocket as a part of a mission to deploy a low-Earth orbit web constellation by China. These demonstration satellites, constructed by Galaxy House and Chang Guang Satellite tv for pc Expertise Co., are designed to check the capabilities of this state-owned mission. This marked the third mission of the Chang Zheng 2D rocket in 2025.
Chang Zheng 6 | Tianping-3A-02
Chang Zheng 6 launched on April 3 from Launch Complicated 16 (LC-16) on the Taiyuan Satellite tv for pc Launch Heart in China. The launch window opened at 2:04 UTC, and launch commenced at 2:12 UTC. Chang Zheng 6 despatched Tianping-3A-02, a small satellite tv for pc, to low-Earth orbit.
Tianping-3A-02 shall be used to calibrate ground-based radar and radar cross-section (RCS) measurements, assist imaging checks from Earth, and assist future orbit correction fashions. The satellite tv for pc was constructed by the Shanghai Innovation Academy of Microsatellites. That is Chang Zheng 6’s twenty fifth mission, and the rumor that this might be Chang Zheng 6’s closing launch was redacted, so it should doubtless be seen once more within the close to future
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-72
Falcon 9 is launching the Starlink Group 6-72 mission to low-Earth orbit from SLC-40 on the CCSFS at 10:40 PM EDT on April 5 (2:40 UTC on April 6). This mission will carry a payload of Starlink v2 Mini Optimized satellites on a southeastern trajectory to an orbit inclined 43 levels. The particular booster just isn’t but decided; nonetheless, the droneship supporting this mission is thought to be Simply Learn the Directions.
Falcon 9 | Starlink Group 11-13
On April 3 at 6:02 PM PDT (1:02 UTC on April 4), Falcon 9 launched the Starlink Group 11-13 mission from House Launch Complicated 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg House Power Base (VSFB). The payload for this mission consists of twenty-two Starlink v2 Mini satellites. The satellites flew on a southeastern trajectory to an inclined orbit of 53.17 levels, with an preliminary orbit of 274 by 284 km.
The booster for this mission is B1088, flying for its fifth time. It has supported earlier missions, together with two Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace Launch (NROL) missions, Transporter 12, and the current SPHEREx & PUNCH mission. The booster efficiently landed on SpaceX’s autonomous droneship, Of Course I Nonetheless Love You, downrange within the Pacific Ocean. This was the booster’s third mission in 23 days, showcasing an immaculate refurbishment time from SpaceX.
Simply flew booster 1088 for the third time in 23 days (would have been 21 days if not for climate). Main props to the SpaceX Vandy group! 👏👏👏 https://t.co/2IyEVWi4zu
— Jon Edwards (@edwards345) April 4, 2025
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-72
Falcon 9 is launching the Starlink Group 6-72 mission to low-Earth orbit from SLC-40 on the CCSFS at 10:40 PM EDT on April 5 (2:40 UTC on April 6). This mission will carry a payload of Starlink v2 Mini Optimized satellites on a southeastern trajectory to an orbit inclined 43 levels. The particular booster just isn’t but decided; nonetheless, the droneship supporting this mission is thought to be Simply Learn the Directions.
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 11-11
Starlink Group 11-11 is scheduled to launch from SLC-4E at VSFB on April 7 at 2:35 PM PDT (21:35 UTC). This launch will carry a batch of Starlink v2 Mini satellites on a southeastern trajectory to a 53-degree inclination orbit.
The booster for this mission stays unknown. The droneship, Of Course I Nonetheless Love You, will get well the booster downrange from the launch web site within the Pacific Ocean. If schedules maintain, this launch and touchdown will come simply three days after Starlink Group 11-13.
(Lead picture: Falcon 9 launches from Florida. Credit score: Julia Bergeron for NSF)
