Southern California, USA – SpaceX achieved another milestone on Wednesday night as its Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 9:09 p.m. PDT. The rocket was carrying a cluster of Starlink satellites into orbit, further expanding the company’s broadband satellite network.
The launch was visible from hundreds of miles away and marked the rocket’s second attempt, with Tuesday night’s mission being aborted just five seconds before the scheduled lift-off time of 10:25 p.m.
During Wednesday’s mission, the Falcon 9 rocket carried 15 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit, contributing to the company’s efforts to provide low-cost internet service to remote and rural communities.
SpaceX’s Starlink project has achieved significant progress with over 4,200 functional satellites currently orbiting the Earth. The ultimate goal is to create a vast constellation of broadband satellites that offer global coverage.
The tweet below from SpaceX shows Falcon 9 launching:
Watch Falcon 9 launch 15 @Starlink satellites to orbit → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK https://t.co/kBvkyB370Y
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 20, 2023
Following the successful launch, the Falcon 9’s reusable booster is set to return and land on the spaceport drone ship, named “Of Course I Still Love You,” stationed in the Pacific Ocean. This particular Falcon 9 rocket has completed nine liftoffs and landings so far, exemplifying its status as the “world’s first orbital class reusable rocket,” according to SpaceX.
The Falcon 9 rocket is designed to safely transport payloads and, in the future, even people, into Earth’s orbit and beyond. Its reusability significantly reduces launch costs and contributes to more sustainable space missions.
To date, the entire fleet of Falcon 9 rockets has accumulated an impressive track record with 246 total launches, 207 successful landings, and 180 flights.
With each successful launch, SpaceX gets closer to achieving its vision of a robust and global satellite network that connects communities worldwide, bridging the digital divide and providing access to reliable internet services even in the most remote regions.
As SpaceX continues to improve and expand its Starlink constellation, the possibilities for increased internet accessibility and connectivity for underserved areas become more promising.
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