SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites Using New Falcon 9 Rocket
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA – SpaceX successfully launched 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) today, utilizing a brand-new Falcon 9 rocket. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 1:18 a.m. PDT (0818 GMT).
This mission marks a rare instance of SpaceX flying a entirely new Falcon 9 booster, a departure from the company’s typical practice of extensively reusing its rockets. SpaceX is renowned for its rocket reuse capabilities, with one falcon 9 booster recently completing a record-breaking 30th flight just last week.Though, the booster used in today’s launch successfully landed on the SpaceX drone ship “Just read the Instructions” approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff,paving the way for future missions.
The Falcon 9’s upper stage carried the starlink satellites toward LEO, with deployment scheduled 62.5 minutes after launch. This latest batch adds to the rapidly expanding Starlink constellation, which currently comprises nearly 8,300 operational satellites – the largest spacecraft network ever assembled.
Today’s launch represents the 109th Falcon 9 flight of 2024, with over 70% of these missions dedicated to deploying Starlink satellites. The ongoing expansion of the Starlink network aims to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access globally, particularly to underserved and remote areas.
