SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Successfully Launches 22 Starlink Satellites
In the early hours of Friday morning, SpaceX successfully launched another batch of satellites for its Starlink network from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Falcon 9 rocket, making its 13th flight, took off at 12:03 a.m. PST, marking the fastest turnaround for SpaceX’s West Coast launch pad at just six days since the last launch.
The mission, known as Starlink 7-8, saw the deployment of 22 Starlink satellites into orbit. This launch marked the 40th batch of the V2 Mini Starlink model, which is larger and capable of delivering four times more bandwidth than its predecessor.
Although the webcast encountered technical difficulties and did not capture the liftoff, SpaceX confirmed the successful deployment of the satellites just over an hour after launch in a social media post.
The first stage booster, which had previously launched a variety of missions including NROL-87 and multiple Starlink delivery missions, successfully landed on the drone ship ‘Of Course I still Love You’ stationed in the Pacific Ocean, marking another successful recovery for the reusable rocket.
SpaceX’s Starlink internet service has seen significant growth, with over two million subscribers in more than 60 countries. Prior to the Starlink 7-8 mission, SpaceX had launched a total of 5,559 satellites, with 5,186 remaining in orbit and 5,147 working normally, according to statistics compiled by astronomer Jonathan McDowell.
The successful launch and deployment of the Starlink satellites further expand SpaceX’s internet service and contribute to its goal of providing high-speed internet access to underserved and remote areas around the world.