UNITED STATES: In a remarkable display of precision and efficiency, SpaceX triumphantly launched 22 of its Starlink internet satellites on the evening of October 13. The launch, which had been delayed by a week to prioritize preparations for NASA’s Psyche asteroid mission, took place at 7:01 p.m. EDT (2301 GMT) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Starlink spacecraft, ascended into the night sky, marking the 14th liftoff and landing for this particular Falcon 9 first stage. Impressively, two of its previous 13 missions involved ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA.
Following its successful launch, the Falcon 9’s first stage executed a precise vertical landing at sea, touching down on the SpaceX drone ship named “A Shortfall of Gravitas” approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff.
Approximately 65 minutes post-launch, the 22 Starlink satellites were released into low Earth orbit from the Falcon 9’s upper stage, a development promptly communicated by SpaceX via their social media platform, X.
Originally scheduled for launch on October 9, the Starlink deployment was temporarily postponed to allocate resources and attention to the crucial Psyche asteroid probe mission. This mission, too, achieved a successful liftoff, riding atop a Falcon Heavy rocket from the nearby Kennedy Space Center.
With this triumph, SpaceX marked its 73rd orbital launch of the year, with a significant portion dedicated to expanding the Starlink mega constellation. Currently boasting 4,830 operational satellites, this constellation is revolutionizing global internet accessibility and reshaping the future of space communication technology.
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