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SpaceX Launches 21 Starlink Satellites in Doubleheader Mission
SpaceX is preparing for the launch of 21 Starlink broadband satellites on the second leg of a spaceflight doubleheader. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the satellites, including six capable of providing direct service to cell phones, is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The launch is set to occur tonight within a four-hour window starting at 10:31 p.m. EDT. SpaceX will provide a live stream of the event on its platform, beginning five minutes before the launch window opens. Following liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage is expected to return to Earth for a vertical landing on the droneship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ in the Pacific Ocean. This mission marks the sixth launch and landing for this particular booster.
The upper stage of the Falcon 9 will continue to deploy the 21 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit approximately 62.5 minutes after liftoff. SpaceX has dedicated a significant portion of its 2024 orbital missions to expanding the Starlink megaconstellation, which currently includes over 5,650 operational satellites in LEO.
This launch is part of SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to enhance global connectivity and expand its satellite network. Earlier in the day, the company successfully launched 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, making tonight’s event the second Starlink launch of the day.
Conclusion
SpaceX’s mission to deploy additional Starlink satellites demonstrates the company’s commitment to revolutionizing global communications and expanding access to high-speed internet services. With each successful launch, SpaceX moves closer to establishing a robust satellite network that will benefit communities worldwide.
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