SpaceX is preparing to launch the Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 rocket, utilizing booster B1085, is scheduled to lift off during a one-hour window starting at 6:30 a.m. EDT. This marks the 19th flight for the specific booster, which aims for a landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas nine minutes after departure.
The mission carries 32 payloads, including the uncrewed Starfall reentry capsule developed by SpaceX. According to FAA data, the Starfall vehicle measures 0.75 meters in height and 3.1 meters in diameter, with a mass of approximately 2,100 kilograms. It is designed to support up to 1,000 kilograms of payload mass for microgravity research and manufacturing.
Other notable payloads include the W-Series 7 reentry capsule from Varda Space Industries, which will conduct pharmaceutical research on the cancer drug Protac. Additionally, Portal Space Systems is launching its Starburst-1 demonstration mission, a 260-kilogram spacecraft. Exolaunch is managing 20 of the 31 customer payloads, including satellites from HawkEye 360, Iceye, and Xona Space Systems.
Weather conditions remain a factor for the launch, with the 45th Weather Squadron forecasting a 55 percent chance of acceptable weather. Gusty winds and potential coastal showers are cited as primary concerns. The mission follows a record-setting streak for the Falcon rocket family, which recently achieved its 200th consecutive successful launch.
