Dec. 12 (UPI) — SpaceX plans to launch 23 Starlink communications satellites into low Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday morning, weather permitting.

The scheduled launch at 11:28 a.m. PT will be the first of two SpaceX launches scheduled for Friday the 13th. The other will launch a GPS navigation satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida sometime between 6:30 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m

If necessary, alternative options for the Vandenberg start will be available later on Friday and Saturday.

This will be the ninth mission for the first stage booster, which carries the liquid fuel that the Falcon 9 rocket uses to deliver its payload during launch and on its way to low Earth orbit.

Approximately eight minutes after liftoff from Vandenberg and after consuming one million pounds of jet fuel, the Falcon 9 will jettison the first stage booster, which will return and land on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship in the Pacific Ocean.

Meteorologists are predicting wind speeds of up to 15 mph (24 km/h) near the launch site on Friday, which could lead to rough seas and prevent the rocket from landing safely.

This booster has been used in half a dozen previous Starlink missions, launching Oneweb 4 and USSF-62.

SpaceX will broadcast its launches live on X.