SpaceX launched 20 Starlink satellites into orbit on Friday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Falcon 9’s first stage lands on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship pic.twitter.com/da173czlNV
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 20, 2024
The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the satellites lifted off at 6:50 a.m. Pacific Time from Space Launch Complex 4 East. The mission, called Starlink 9-17, included 13 satellites equipped with Direct to Cell capabilities.
SpaceX later confirmed the successful deployment of all 20 satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster, tail number B1075, completed its 13th flight with this launch. It had previously supported missions such as Transporter-11, SDA-0A for the Space Development Agency, and nine other Starlink launches.
Watch Falcon 9 launch 20 @Starlink satellites to orbit from California, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities https://t.co/e96PhvnIaO
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 20, 2024
A note on the changing altitude deployment of the Starlink constellation: compare Oct 2023 (4925 in orbit, 6% below 500 km) with Sep 2024 (6413 in orbit, 25% of which below 500 km) pic.twitter.com/YWG9iLfmBr
— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) September 21, 2024
Starlink satellites launch adds to constellation
About eight minutes after liftoff, the booster landed on SpaceX’s droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean. This marked the 102nd landing for the droneship and the 350th overall booster landing for SpaceX.
The launch from Vandenberg coincided with preparations for upcoming NASA missions at SpaceX’s Florida launch pads. Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center is being readied for the Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter’s moon, while Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is preparing for the Crew-9 mission. Crew-9, commanded by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and joined by mission specialist Alexandr Gorbunov, is scheduled to launch no earlier than September 26.
The mission will have only two crew members, leaving two seats on the Crew Dragon spacecraft unoccupied. Friday’s successful launch brings the total number of Starlink satellites in orbit to over 4,000, as SpaceX continues to expand its satellite internet constellation.
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