News

SpaceX successfully launched its fifth Falcon 9 mission of the month on Wednesday, delivering 22 Starlink internet communications satellites to low-Earth orbit. The launch took place at 11:36 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Despite unfavorable weather conditions, the launch went ahead after a 90-percent improvement in the weather outlook. This marks the fifth launch in the third week of August and the fourth consecutive launch from Space Launch Complex 40.

The weather patterns over the Space Coast have been challenging, but SpaceX managed to overcome the poor weather odds. The launch was scheduled for close to the end of the launch window to avoid cloud cover associated with evening showers and storms. The Falcon 9 booster used for this mission, known as B1067, successfully landed on the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the Atlantic Ocean.

B1067 has a remarkable track record, with this launch being its 13th mission. It has previously delivered payloads such as the CRS-22 Cargo Dragon to the International Space Station and various satellites for communication purposes. The Falcon 9’s second stage continued the mission after the successful landing, releasing the 22 Starlink satellites into orbit.

The Starlink constellation provides high-speed and low-latency internet services across multiple regions globally. Countries like Cyprus, Guatemala, Kenya, Malaysia, and Malawi have recently joined the network, and Brightline, an intercity rail operator in Florida, has adopted Starlink on its trains. Starlink’s connectivity is also being integrated into schools in El Salvador and Rwanda to improve digital access for remote communities.

This launch marked the 99th batch of Starlink satellites launched since May 2019. The 100th batch is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in a few hours. The next Falcon 9 mission is also set to take place from Vandenberg, with the B1061 booster aiming for its 15th launch, making it the fourth Falcon 9 core to reach this milestone.

The post Fifth Falcon 9 Launch in August Successfully Delivers 22 Starlink Satellites to Orbit appeared first on satProviders.