SpaceX makes anniversary launch in 2023 - Falcon 9 sends 56 Starlink satellites into orbit
US aerospace company SpaceX has launched another batch of Starlink spacecraft into orbit. It has already made 20 launches since the beginning of 2023.
Here's What We Know
As part of the 20th launch, the Falcon 9 rocket was launched from the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Nine minutes after launch, the first stage returned to the unmanned platform A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.
Falcon 9 launches Starlink to orbit, completing our 20th launch of the year pic.twitter.com/2aX0OURUtk
- SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 24, 2023
Falcon 9 has delivered 56 Starlink satellites into orbit, bringing the total number to 4,105. At the same time there are less than 3,800 spacecraft in operation. By the way, it was recently reported that due to problems with Starlink v2 Mini company SpaceX will be forced to withdraw from orbit some of the second-generation satellites.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/QJUch6L6QQ
- SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 24, 2023
Falcon 9's first stage has landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship pic.twitter.com/34f8zYCKbz
- SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 24, 2023
The 20th mission in 2023 lasted just over an hour. All 56 satellites were successfully deployed in low-Earth orbit. For the first stage of the Falcon 9 launcher this launch was also the 10th anniversary launch.
Source: SpaceX