SpaceX Launches 46 Starlink Satellites in Rapid 6-Hour Double Mission
SpaceX achieved a remarkable feat with the successful double launch of 46 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit within a span of six hours. The launches took place from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The first set of 23 satellites was launched at 4:35 am (India time), marking the 11th flight for the reusable first stage booster, which had previously supported various missions, including Crew-5 and GPS III Space Vehicle 06.
Following liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage returned to Earth, executing a precise vertical landing on the SpaceX drone ship 'Just Read the Instructions' in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 8.5 minutes after launch. SpaceX confirmed the successful deployment of the first set of Starlink satellites an hour later.
The second set of 23 Starlink satellites was launched at 9:39 am (India time) and marked the 17th flight for its first stage booster, previously supporting missions such as Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich and Iridium OneWeb. After stage separation, the first stage was scheduled to land on the 'Of Course I Still Love You' droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
With over 5,000 operational Starlink satellites in orbit and approval for up to 12,000 launches, SpaceX has solidified its position in the satellite internet space. The company has already launched 22 orbital missions in the current year and aims for a total of 144 launches in 2024, demonstrating its commitment to advancing space exploration and satellite communication technologies.
