On Sunday night, SpaceX achieved yet another milestone as their Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, carrying 23 Starlink satellites. Notably, 13 of these satellites are equipped to provide direct-to-cell phone services, marking a significant advancement in satellite communication.
Key Highlights of the Launch:
– Launch Timing: The rocket successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at 10:09 PM EDT (0209 UTC).
– Rocket Utilization: This mission marked SpaceX’s 48th Falcon 9 launch in 2025, showcasing the company’s growing presence in space exploration.
– Booster Details: The Falcon 9 first stage booster, designated B1077, embarked on its 20th flight, having previously supported 12 Starlink missions, three International Space Station resupply missions, and the launch of the GPS 3 Space Vehicle 06.
– Booster Recovery: A little over eight minutes post-launch, B1077 made a successful landing on the droneship ‘Just Read the Instructions’ stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, east of The Bahamas. This recovery marks the 117th landing on this particular droneship and the 438th Falcon 9 booster recovery overall.
– Satellite Deployment: SpaceX confirmed the successful deployment of the 23 Starlink satellites just over an hour after liftoff.
Upcoming Launch Schedules:
SpaceX tentatively postponed another Falcon 9 launch scheduled for Sunday night, aligning with the Starlink 11-9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, to Monday. This delay is part of SpaceX’s meticulous approach to ensuring mission success.
Looking Forward:
Next month, SpaceX plans to launch the last of their first-generation Dragon cargo capsules from Florida. This mission underscores the shift towards using refurbished spacecraft for future International Space Station resupply missions while a new Dragon variant is under development.
Other Recent Launches:
Recently, from California’s Central Coast, a Falcon 9 rocket launched a Spanish radar observation satellite along with the first two experimental satellites for SpaceX’s anticipated global broadband network. The launch took place shortly before sunrise on Thursday, following several delay-days, as part of the Starlink 9-5 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East at 1:48 AM PDT (4:48 AM EDT, 0848 UTC).
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com
