The SpaceX team has launched another batch of its Starlink Internet satellites. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink ships launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on April 2 at 02:30 Kyiv time.
This was reported by Space.
Bad weather disrupted two previous launch attempts. This time, the weather cooperated and the Falcon 9 left the pad.
If all goes according to plan, the first stage of the Falcon 9 will return to Earth and land vertically about 8.5 minutes after launch. This landing will take place on the deck of the unmanned ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean.
According to SpaceX’s mission description, this will be the 15th launch and landing of this rocket. The Falcon 9 upper stage will continue to move the 22 Starlink satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where they will be deployed approximately 62 minutes after launch.
The rescheduled launch was the 32nd Falcon 9 flight in 2024 and the 21st dedicated to the Starlink megastar. So far, SpaceX has launched 6.1 thousand. Starlink satellites, 5.6 thousand. of which continue to operate, according to astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell.
These already staggering numbers will continue to grow. SpaceX has a permit to deploy 12 thousand. Starlink ships to LEO and applied for approval of another 30 thousand.
