The previous record for the most orbital missions in a single year held by SpaceX has recently been surpassed by…well, the company itself! Sunday, September 3, saw the launch of 21 of the company’s Starlink internet satellites into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket that was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida by NASA. According to SpaceX, this specific rocket made its 10th launch and touchdown throughout the course of the mission. The launch was an important component of an otherwise monumental day for SpaceX. Additionally, the firm will be returning to Earth its four men who had been stationed in the International Space Station (ISS). These astronauts have been on a challenging space mission since March! That’s quite impressive and motivating, isn’t it?! Also, they were part of the Crew-6 mission.
Continue reading down below and find key details about SpaceX’s Starlink project.
According to Elon Musk, founder and CEO of the space company, SpaceX completed its 62nd orbital journey in 2023, which established an all-time record for the most trips in a single calendar year.
Great work by the @SpaceX team successfully launching 61 Falcon rocket missions this year!
If tomorrow’s mission goes well, we will exceed last year’s flight count.
SpaceX has delivered ~80% of all Earth payload mass to orbit in 2023. China is ~10% & rest of world other ~10%.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 2, 2023
After the first stage, the Falcon 9 spacecraft successfully landed back on Earth around 8.5 minutes after liftoff. It landed on the drone vessel, which was positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. The upper stage of the Falcon 9 continued its flight in the meanwhile. A deployment into low Earth orbit (LEO) for all 21 Starlink satellites is planned to occur around 65 minutes following liftoff. Incredible!
Today (September 4), the Crew-6 spacecraft, which was a Crew Dragon capsule and was given the name Endeavour, undocked from the International Space Station. At around 12:17 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (0417 GMT), it will burst into the water approximately 100 miles off the coast of Florida.
For more space inspiration, check out India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission here.
What are your thoughts on the Starlink program developed by SpaceX? Share your opinion in the comments below!
