Busy Week Ahead with Eight Rocket Launches Including SpaceX Crew-12 and Inaugural Ariane 64 Mission
A busy week in rocket launches is set to take place globally, with eight missions planned from various launch sites starting with a SpaceX Starlink operation on Wednesday. The week’s activities will include a particularly active Thursday, featuring the launches of five different rockets, among them the Vulcan, Proton, and the inaugural Ariane 64 mission. Additionally, SpaceX, in conjunction with NASA, will conduct the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station on the same day.
The week begins with the Falcon 9 rocket scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for the Starlink Group 17-34 mission. This launch is anticipated on Wednesday, February 11, at 6:07 AM PST (14:07 UTC). The mission will deploy 24 Starlink v2 Mini satellites into a low-Earth orbit with a launch vehicle that has successfully flown twice before. Following the launch, the Falcon 9 booster is expected to attempt a landing on SpaceX’s droneship.
The next mission will occur from the Haiyang Oriental Spaceport in China with the Jielong 3 rocket, which is slated for a liftoff around 6:30 AM UTC on the same day. The exact purpose of this mission remains undisclosed; however, earlier reports suggest it may be linked to launching a Pakistani Earth observation satellite.
On Thursday, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) will conduct the Vulcan VC4S mission, sending three payloads for the United States Space Force to a geosynchronous orbit. This mission is scheduled to launch at 3:30 AM EST (8:30 UTC) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Vulcan, equipped with solid rocket boosters, will be carrying surveillance satellites and a training spacecraft.
Russia’s Proton-M rocket will be the next to launch on Thursday at 8:52 AM UTC, delivering the Elektro-L n°5 satellite designed to enhance weather monitoring capabilities. This mission will mark the Proton-M’s first flight of the year.
Later that day, SpaceX will launch its Crew-12 mission, transporting a multinational crew to the International Space Station at 6:01 AM EST (11:01 UTC) from Cape Canaveral. This mission involves a diverse team of astronauts and is expected to last up to nine months aboard the station.
Arianespace will follow with its Ariane 64 launch, sending 32 Amazon Leo satellites into orbit at 4:45 PM UTC from French Guiana. This mission aims to expand Amazon’s satellite internet capabilities, positioning it in direct competition with SpaceX’s Starlink.
Rounding out the busy week, SpaceX will execute two more Starlink missions over the weekend, with launches scheduled from both Florida and California. The Falcon 9 rockets will deploy additional satellites into low-Earth orbit, continuing the company’s expansion in satellite internet services.
In total, this week promises to be significant for space exploration and commercialization, with multiple organizations collaborating and competing to enhance their capabilities in space.