SpaceX has launched 22 of its new “V2 Mini” internet satellites for the Starlink communications network from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The new satellites are more powerful than earlier versions, with increased broadband capacity and Hall thruster electric propulsion systems that produce more than twice as much thrust. The launch was originally scheduled for 5:56 a.m. EDT but was delayed until 8:20 a.m. due to final preparations. The Falcon 9 booster supporting the mission was B1078, which had previously supported Crew-6 and O3b mPower 3 and 4. The booster landed successfully on the drone ship Just Read the Instructions 400 miles northeast of the Bahamas. SpaceX is also scheduled to launch an uncrewed Dragon capsule resupply mission to the International Space Station from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida later on Sunday, with a 40% chance of acceptable weather conditions.
