SpaceX has successfully launched a double-header Starlink mission in five hours from Florida and California and deployed a total of 45 Starlink internet satellites to low-Earth orbit.
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida
SpaceX has launched 23 Starlink satellites on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at 8:10 p.m. EST (or 01:10 UTC on January 29).
A Falcon 9 rocket of SpaceX has carried these Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to low-Earth orbit.
Watch the launch of this mission if you missed it:
This was the 18th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8, and now 11 Starlink missions, according to the statement from SpaceX.
The first stage booster is the reusable part of the Falcon 9 rocket. After stage separation, the first stage booster came back to Earth and landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Only the second stage (upper stage) of the Falcon 9 rocket carried these satellites to the low-Earth orbit from the stage separation and deployed them about 65 minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites from California
SpaceX has launched 22 Starlink satellites on Monday, January 29, 2024, at 12:57 a.m. EST (or 05:57 UTC).
Another Falcon 9 rocket of SpaceX has carried these Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to low-Earth orbit.
Watch the launch of this mission if you missed it:
This was the ninth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SDA-0A, SARah-2, and now seven Starlink missions according to the statement from SpaceX.
After stage separation, the first stage booster came back to Earth and landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
The second stage (upper stage) of the Falcon 9 rocket deployed them about 62 minutes after liftoff.
Know about Starlink satellites
Starlink is the world’s first and largest satellite constellation, located in the low-Earth orbit, which provides high-speed satellite internet from space to almost anywhere on Earth. Currently, it’s providing satellite internet access to over 71 countries.
See the map where Starlink satellite internet is currently available.
As of January 29, 2024, SpaceX has launched 5806 Starlink satellites, of which 5418 are in low-Earth orbit and 5382 are in operational state, according to the report in Jonathan’s Space Pages. SpaceX has decided to deploy around 12,000 Starlink satellites in total.
The growing number of Starlink satellites in the low-Earth orbit is currently creating controversy because the bright train of Starlink satellites will interfere with night sky observation from the ground.
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