SpaceX launched its 52 Starlink Internet satellites into orbit on Saturday (September 24) evening and missed a rocket landing in the ocean.
A Falcon 9 Rocket with 52 star link The spacecraft lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 7:32 p.m. on Saturday. EDT (2332 GMT).
Just nine minutes later, the Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth for a precision landing SpaceX “Drones” deployed in the Atlantic lack gravitas. This was the fourth take off and landing of this particular amp. According to the SpaceX mission description (opens in a new tab).
Related: Starlink Megaconstellation from SpaceX launches in pictures
The Falcon 9 upper stage deployed 52 Starlinks 15.5 minutes after liftoff as scheduled. “SpaceX” confirmed via “Twitter”. (opens in a new tab).
Saturday’s launch continues construction of SpaceX’s Starlink megaconstellation, which will provide internet service to people around the world. The company has currently built about 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 can send communications directly to smartphones, and so will T-Mobile customers through the project.Keep coveringFounder and CEO of SpaceX Elon Musk announced last month.
SpaceX plans to launch batches of Starlink V2 on the next-generation Mega Starship If all goes according to plan, a vehicle carrying supplies and people to the Moon and Mars. Starship’s first orbital test flight ‘very likely’ To speak in NovemberMusk said recently.
Saturday’s launch was SpaceX’s 43rd orbital mission of 2022, adding to the company’s one-year launch record. SpaceX’s one-year high was 31, set in 2021.
Editor’s note: This story was updated on September 24. 7:55 PM EDT with news of a successful launch, rocket landing and satellite deployment.
Mike Wall is the author of the book “Abroad (opens in a new tab)book (Great Grand Publishing House, 2018; illustrated by Carl Tate), a book about the search for extraterrestrial life. Follow him on Twitter Embedding Twitter (opens in a new tab). Follow us on Twitter Embedding Twitter (opens in a new tab) or enabled Facebook (opens in a new tab).
Prone to fits of apathy. Unable to type with boxing gloves on. Internet advocate. Avid travel enthusiast. Entrepreneur. Music expert.
