Watch live: SpaceX to launch its second batch of Starlink satellites

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  The Falcon 9 rocket is seen on Sunday, before going vertical at Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida. [credit: Trevor Mahlmann for Ars ]

SpaceX has readied a Falcon 9 rocket and a second set of 60 Starlink satellites for a launch on Monday morning. The company is targeting 9:56am ET (14:56 UTC Monday) for liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Weather conditions appear to be favorable for the launch attempt.

After an "experimental" launch in May of 60 satellites, about 50 of which remain in orbit half a year later, SpaceX has made several modifications to this second batch of Starlink satellites.

"SpaceX has increased spectrum capacity for the end-user through upgrades in design that maximize the use of both Ka and Ku bands," the company stated in a news release. "Additionally, components of each satellite are 100% demisable and will quickly burn up in Earth’s atmosphere at the end of their life cycle—a measure that exceeds all current safety standards."

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