SpaceX launched the first second-generation Starlink satellites as part of its anniversary rocket launch in 2022

SpaceX successfully completed its 60th rocket launch in 2022. The launch was notable not only because it was the anniversary launch.

Here's What We Know

Falcon 9 sent the second generation Starlink Gen 2 (Starlink v2.0) satellites into orbit for the first time. The rocket successfully returned to Earth seven minutes after launch, landing on the floating pad A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.

Falcon 9 launched from Cape Canaveral (Florida) at 05:34 (EDT) or 02:34 (PDT) with 54 Starlink Gen 2 satellites. Elon Musk's company began deploying the second-generation spacecraft after receiving approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The new satellites will allow the company to increase network capacity and improve satellite Internet speeds in regions with a large number of customers. The regulator cleared SpaceX to launch 7,500 second-generation satellites and may then approve a request to launch 30,000 Starlink Gen 2 satellites.

Source: SpaceX