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[20200818_144907 UTC: Update 1: Launch successful, Booster landing successful, Deployment of all 3 of Planet's SkySats successful. Starlink deployment due in about 10 minutes at approximately T+26:00.]

[20200818_150438 UTC: Starlink satellites deployment due shortly (had bad info on deployment time).]

[20200818_151940 UTC: Starlink satellite deployment successful at T+46:00. One fairing was successfully caught by "Ms Tree"; the other fairing made a soft landing in the water and is being retrieved by "Ms Chief".]

[Note: this story is in addition to our usually-scheduled stories; ignore it if you are not interested. --martyb]

upstart writes in with an IRC submission:

Tuesday's SpaceX Starlink satellite ride share will set a new record:

"Some big milestones coming up," Musk said on Twitter, referring to the sixth flight of the booster (serial number B-1049) and the 100th mission for SpaceX over the company's history.

Obviously, the Falcon 9 first stage could actually set two new records on the same day, by first launching for the sixth time and then landing for the sixth time, which it will attempt on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Atlantic Ocean.

The launch is set for Tuesday morning at 7:31 a.m. PT [10:31 a.m. EDT; 14:31 UTC] from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. As of Monday morning, the weather forecast had an 80 percent chance of being favorable for launch.

In addition to attempting a historic launch and landing, SpaceX will try to catch both halves of the nose cone that will protect 58 Starlink satellites and three belonging to Earth-imagery company Planet as they blast through the atmosphere. SpaceX has just recently perfected its method for retrieving these components, and we'll see if it can make a habit of it and continue to expand its recycling program.

Also at Ars Technica.

Livestream on YouTube.

Original Submission