SpaceX is gearing up for yet another high-profile launch as it prepares to deploy a new batch of its Starlink high-speed internet satellites. This upcoming launch, known as Starlink 6-54, will be the 29th dedicated launch of Starlink satellites this year, highlighting the company's commitment to expanding its global broadband network.

The liftoff of the Starlink 6-54 mission is scheduled for Sunday evening from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS). Launch time is set for 6:08 p.m. EDT (2208 UTC), with backup opportunities available until 9:48 p.m. EDT (0148 UTC) if required.

Spaceflight Now will provide live coverage of the mission, starting an hour before liftoff, bringing the excitement of the launch directly to audiences worldwide.

This mission will see the Falcon 9 first stage booster, tail number B1076, take flight for the 13th time. Previously, this booster has supported various missions including Ovzon 3, Intelsat IS-40e, SpaceX's 26th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-26) flight, and six Starlink missions. After its role in the Starlink 6-54 mission, it is expected to make a controlled landing on the SpaceX droneship, 'Just Read the Instructions,' marking the 80th successful landing on the vessel and the 301st booster landing for SpaceX overall.

The addition of the 23 Starlink satellites from the Starlink 6-54 launch will significantly expand the constellation's coverage. Currently, there are 5,874 Starlink satellites already in orbit, according to astronomer and orbital tracker Jonathan McDowell's calculations as of April 24. Overall, SpaceX has launched a total of 633 Starlink satellites this year alone.

In recent news, SpaceX announced that the Federated States of Micronesia has become the latest country to join the list of nations where Starlink's high-speed, low-latency internet service is available. This further highlights the growing reach and impact of SpaceX's ambitious Starlink project.

Coinciding with the Starlink 6-54 launch, the SpaceX Cargo Dragon spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station earlier today. It is expected to make a splashdown off the coast of Florida after a roughly 36-hour journey. This marks the conclusion of the CRS-30 mission, which has been docked to the ISS for over 30 days and will bring back more than 4,000 pounds of valuable science experiments.

Moreover, this successful undocking operation paves the way for Boeing's first crewed mission to the International Space Station using its Starliner spacecraft. Before Boeing's launch can proceed, SpaceX needs to relocate its Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft from the forward-facing port to the space-facing port of the Harmony module, a maneuver scheduled for May 2.

As SpaceX continues to push boundaries in commercial space exploration with its Starlink missions and collaborations with other space agencies, the company demonstrates its commitment to revolutionizing global connectivity and pushing humanity further into the cosmos.