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| SpaceX's 70th Mission of the Year: Deploying 22 Starlink Satellites (Watch Video) |
The Starlink satellite mission successfully commenced as the Starlink spacecraft soared into the sky atop a Falcon 9 rocket, departing from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at precisely 1:36 a.m. EDT (0536 GMT). Although initially slated for liftoff on Wednesday at 10:45 p.m. EDT (0245 GMT on Oct. 5), adverse weather conditions caused a slight delay.
In line with the plan, the Falcon 9's first stage executed a flawless return to Earth, achieving a precise vertical landing at sea on SpaceX's drone ship, known as "Just Read the Instructions." This marked the eighth liftoff and subsequent landing for this specific Falcon 9 first stage, as reported in SpaceX's mission description. Notably, four of its seven previous launches involved propelling Starlink satellite batches into orbit.
Approximately 65 minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9's upper stage is scheduled to release 22 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO).
This particular mission marked SpaceX's 70th orbital endeavor in 2023, with a significant portion of these launches dedicated to expanding the Starlink megaconstellation. Currently, this constellation boasts over 4,800 operational satellites, enhancing global connectivity.
Of the 70 orbital missions conducted by SpaceX in 2023, 67 were handled by the reliable Falcon 9 rocket, while the remaining three were managed by the robust Falcon Heavy. Notably, the latter number is poised to increase, as a Falcon Heavy is scheduled to launch NASA's Psyche asteroid mission on Oct. 12.
In addition to its satellite ventures, SpaceX conducted a test flight of its innovative Starship deep-space transportation system earlier this year. Although this mission did not have the objective of sending a payload into orbit, it faced challenges and concluded just four minutes after liftoff.
Editor's Note: This article was last updated on Thursday, Oct. 5, to include details from the successful launch.
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