23 extra Starlink satellites had been efficiently launched at 2:47 AM ET (07:47 UTC) from Area Launch Advanced 40 at Cape Canaveral Area Drive Station.
The launch was initially scheduled for launch at 1:47 AM ET, however the Falcon 9 was raised to vertical at SLC-40 a bit later than anticipated, leading to only a slight delay. As soon as the rocket was raised, the countdown flowed to a clean launch for SpaceX.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/uU4a2BYBS3
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 22, 2023
These 23 Starlink satellites are part of Group 6-29 and had been launched into the identical 43-degree orbital inclination as the entire earlier Group 6 satellites. They had been deployed simply over an hour after launching from SLC-40.
This was the 86th orbital mission of the yr for SpaceX, which remains to be concentrating on to suit 100 launches in 2023, and on the charge of launches, there’s a good probability SpaceX will meet this aim so long as no unexpected delays happen.
If SpaceX needs to eclipse this aim in 2024, they’d doubtless both have to make the most of the flexibility of the Falcon 9 to return to the touchdown web site or introduce one other droneship. On the present charge of launches, their fleet of drone ships and fairing restoration vessels are close to their restrict, and in some circumstances, the fairing restoration ship has been staying out for two consecutive missions to retrieve 4 fairing halves earlier than heading again into Port Canaveral.
With this launch, one other 15-flight booster was added to the fleet, with Booster 1067 becoming a member of the ranks and making it 6 boosters with at the least 15 flights to house and again.
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship pic.twitter.com/rWj1id7PQW
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 22, 2023
B1067 made a clean touchdown on ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ about eight and a half minutes after liftoff and can return to Port Canaveral within the subsequent few days.
Arising subsequent is one more Starlink mission, however this time there’s a five-day break for crews to permit them an opportunity to get house for Thanksgiving. As of now, the following mission isn’t any sooner than November twenty seventh.
Do you assume SpaceX will make it to 100 missions this yr, or will fleet limitations or different delays preserve them simply quick?
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