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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches its heaviest payload with 56 new Starlink internet satellites from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, Thursday (26/1/2023). Photos/SpaceX/Space
This is the ninth mission of the first-stage Falcon 9 booster rocket that lifted 56 of the new Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit. The Falcon 9 first-stage booster rocket has been used eight times, including on two manned missions to the International Space Station (ISS) carrying Crew 3 and Crew 4, which were launched in November 2021 and April 2022.
The first stage rocket separated about 2 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff and began a controlled descent back to Earth. The first stage rocket landed without error on a SpaceX drone ship off the coast of Florida about 8 minutes and 40 seconds after liftoff.
Also read; Prevent Leaks Like Soyuz MS-22, SpaceX Crew Dragon Capsule Adds Protective Shield
Two fairing sections, one on fifth flight and the other on sixth flight, descended from the upper level nose cone shortly after separation of the first stage and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. About 55 minutes after liftoff, SpaceX confirmed on Twitter that the satellite was successfully launched into orbit.
The launch will add more satellites to SpaceX’s giant Starlink constellation, which provides internet services to customers around the world. Starlink already has more than 3,400 operational satellites, and that staggering number will continue to grow in the future.
Elon Musk’s company already has permission to fly 12,000 Starlink spacecraft, and has applied for approval to deploy nearly 30,000 more satellites. Thursday’s launch is already the sixth of 2023 for SpaceX and the 205th overall for the company.
Also read; US Space Force Prepares 87 Satellite Launches from Florida’s Space Coast in 2023
(wib)
