UNITED STATES: SpaceX successfully deployed 22 additional Starlink internet satellites late Friday night, following a brief delay attributed to adverse weather conditions.
The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the payload, soared from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at precisely 11:38 p.m. EDT, marking a momentous achievement for the private aerospace manufacturer.
Originally slated for liftoff just after midnight, the launch faced a 24-hour postponement due to inclement weather. SpaceX’s meticulous attention to safety, particularly regarding the recovery of the Falcon 9’s first stage, played a pivotal role in this decision.
The booster made a textbook return to Earth approximately 8.5 minutes post-launch, flawlessly touching down on the SpaceX droneship “Just Read the Instructions” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast. Impressively, this marked the fifth successful launch and landing for this particular booster.
The delay was primarily influenced by SpaceX’s cautious monitoring of Hurricane Lee’s impact on the recovery zone, ensuring a seamless retrieval operation. The 22 Starlink satellites are slated to disperse from the Falcon 9’s upper stage roughly 65 minutes after the initial launch.
This milestone launch represents SpaceX’s 64th orbital mission of 2023, highlighting a year of unprecedented achievements. A significant portion of these missions has been dedicated to advancing the Starlink mega constellation, currently comprised of over 4,700 operational satellites.
With every launch, SpaceX extends its record for the highest number of liftoffs within a single year, surpassing the previous benchmark of 61 set in 2022.
The successful deployment of these 22 satellites not only fortifies SpaceX’s position as a pioneering force in space technology but also brings humanity closer to a more interconnected and accessible internet infrastructure.
Also Read: SpaceX Breaks Records with 62nd Orbital Mission in 2023, Launches 21 Starlink Satellites
