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SpaceX Celebrates Milestone with Starlink Satellite Launch
SpaceX is poised to achieve a significant milestone by launching 20 of its Starlink internet satellites on its 50th orbital mission of 2024. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink spacecraft, including 13 units with direct-to-cell capability, is set to depart from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Launch Details
The scheduled liftoff is expected to occur within a four-hour window starting at 12:29 p.m. EDT (1629 GMT; 9:29 a.m. local California time). SpaceX will provide a live webcast of the event on its X account, commencing approximately five minutes prior to the launch window opening.
If all proceeds as planned, the Falcon 9’s first stage will return to Earth roughly 8.5 minutes after liftoff. The stage is anticipated to execute a vertical landing on the droneship by the name “Of Course I Still Love You,” positioned in the Pacific Ocean. Remarkably, this landing will mark the 18th recovery for this specific first stage, nearing SpaceX’s reuse record currently held by three different boosters.
The Falcon 9’s upper stage will carry the 20 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit, deploying them around 61 minutes following liftoff.
Significance of Starlink Megaconstellation
This launch contributes to SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to construct the Starlink megaconstellation. Out of the 49 orbital launches conducted by SpaceX so far this year, 34 have been dedicated to bolstering the Starlink constellation. Presently, the constellation comprises more than 5,900 operational satellites, solidifying SpaceX’s position in the satellite internet market.
It is noteworthy to mention that the 2024 launch count excludes the third test flight of SpaceX’s Starship megarocket that occurred in March. Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, has hinted at an upcoming fourth test mission for Starship, projected to take place in the coming weeks.
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