Falcon 9 Rocket Successfully Launches 22 Starlink Satellites after Delay
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – After being delayed by upper level winds and held up for the launch of NASA’s Psyche mission, a Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday night. The rocket was carrying 22 Starlink satellites.
The U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron, based at Cape Canaveral, initially predicted a 60 percent chance of acceptable weather for the launch. However, that chance improved to 80 percent by the end of the launch window.
This particular launch attempt was not the first one for SpaceX. An earlier attempt on October 8 was aborted with just 23 seconds left on the clock due to upper level winds. Despite this setback, SpaceX pressed forward and successfully launched a West Coast Starlink mission a few hours later. The Cape Canaveral launch was put on hold at the request of NASA, who wanted to prioritize the Falcon Heavy launch of the Psyche asteroid mission, which also took place on Friday.
SpaceX did not need to make use of any of its five backup launch opportunities on Friday, as the Falcon 9 launch went off without a hitch.
The Falcon 9 rocket carried 22 second-generation satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink internet service. It was announced that the company now has over two million subscribers for its broadband internet in more than 60 countries.
During the launch, the Falcon 9 headed southeast and aimed for an inclined orbit of 43 degrees to the equator. The first stage booster, known as B1067, made its 14th flight and successfully separated from the second stage about two and a half minutes into the flight. It then proceeded to land on the drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 420 miles (675 km) from Cape Canaveral.
To complete the mission, two burns of the Falcon 9’s second stage will be necessary to place the satellites into the required orbit, which is projected to be around 182 x 176 miles (293 x 284 km). The separation of the satellite stack is scheduled to occur just over an hour into the flight.
The success of this launch is another milestone for SpaceX as it continues to expand its Starlink constellation and provide global broadband connectivity.