SpaceX launched 52 of its Starlink internet satellites into orbit on Saturday evening (September 24) and also skipped a rocket landing at sea.
a Falcon 9 Missile topped with 52 starlink The spacecraft took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on Saturday at 7:32 p.m. EDT (2332 GMT).
Just under nine minutes later, the first stage of Falcon 9 returned to Earth for a precise landing in SpaceX “Drone” shortage in Gravitas, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. It was the fourth take-off and landing of this particular booster, According to the description of the mission of SpaceX (Opens in a new tab).
Related: Starlink megaconstellation from SpaceX is launched in pictures
The upper stage of the Falcon 9 deployed 52 Starlinks 15.5 minutes after liftoff as planned, SpaceX confirmed via Twitter (Opens in a new tab).
Saturday’s launch continues SpaceX’s Starlink megaconstellation building, which provides internet service to people around the world. The company has now developed nearly 3,400 Starlink satellites and plans to launch thousands more.
Starting next year, SpaceX will begin launching Starlink Version 2 satellites, which will be much larger and more capable than the current iteration. The V2 spacecraft will be able to send communication directly to smartphones, and it will do so for T-Mobile customers via a project called “Cover up and beyondfounder and CEO of SpaceX Elon Musk announced last month.
SpaceX plans to launch Starlink V2 batches aboard the next generation mega Starship The vehicle, which will also transport goods and people to the Moon and Mars, if all goes according to plan. Starship’s first orbital test flight ‘highly likely’ to speak in novemberMusk said recently.
Saturday’s launch was SpaceX’s 43rd orbital mission in 2022, adding to the company’s one-year launch record. The previous highest level for SpaceX launch in a year was 31, achieved in 2021.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 7:55 PM EDT on September 24 with news of a successful launch, rocket landing and satellite deployment.
Mike Wall is the author of “Abroad (Opens in a new tab)Book (Great Grand Publishing House, 2018; illustrated by Carl Tate), a book on the search for extraterrestrials. Follow him on Twitter Tweet embed (Opens in a new tab). Follow us on Twitter Tweet embed (Opens in a new tab) or on Facebook (Opens in a new tab).
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