52 Starlink internet satellites were launched by SpaceX on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). Additionally, a rocket successfully landed on a ship at sea. It was conducted smoothly and was the firm’s 18th completed orbital mission of 2023.
The launch, which carried the Falcon 9 rocket and the Starlink spacecraft, occurred at California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 3:26 PM EDT. Just under nine minutes after takeoff, the rocket’s first stage returned to Earth and landed on the SpaceX droneship called Of Course I Still Love You stationed in the Pacific Ocean. This particular booster had completed eight missions, a significant accomplishment for SpaceX.
All Starlink spacecraft were deployed as intended roughly 15.5 minutes after launch as the rocket’s top stage continued to carry them to low Earth orbit. This feat further establishes SpaceX’s superior technological and professional capabilities.
The most recent successful launch brought the Starlink megaconstellation’s operational satellite count to over 3,700. As SpaceX has been given permission to launch 12,000 Starlink satellites and has also requested authorization to launch an additional 30,000 satellites, this number is anticipated to continue to rise. Thanks to this vast network, everyone will have access to high-speed internet connectivity, especially in rural and underserved areas.
The success of SpaceX didn’t begin on St. Patrick’s Day. The SES-18 and SES-19 communication satellites were due to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station later that day at 7:38 PM EDT on a different mission for the company. As usual, the corporate website carried live coverage of the launch beginning 15 minutes before liftoff.
SpaceX’s continued success is a testament to its innovation, perseverance, and dedication to improving space technology. The company’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. It has become a significant player in the space industry. SpaceX will continue to push the boundaries of technology and space travel in the coming years. SpaceX has already demonstrated its capacity to carry out seemingly impossible tasks.