SpaceX postpones Starlink mission, plans next Cape Canaveral launch for Friday

NASA to bring Crew-11 home early after medical issue

NASA announced Thursday that its Crew-11 mission aboard the International Space Station will return to Earth nearly a month ahead of schedule after a medical issue involving one of the astronauts.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - SpaceX has postponed its Thursday afternoon launch of Starlink satellites from the Space Coast. No reason was given. 

The company is now set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying another batch of satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday. 

The rocket is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 during a launch window that opens at 1:30 p.m. ET. 

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After separation, the Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on the droneship "Just Read the Instructions," which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This will be the 29th flight for the booster, which has supported 24 Starlink missions, according to SpaceX. 

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Starlink megaconstellation

This batch of satellites, which are part of the Starlink 6-96 mission, will be heading for low Earth orbit, joining thousands that have already been launched into space. Starlink satellites provide broadband internet access to many parts of the world. 

Friday’s launch marks the second one for SpaceX in 2026. The first was a Falcon 9 rocket launch on Sunday. 

SpaceX's next Starlink mission launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.