A Falcon 9 rocket successfully flew alongside a golden, orange rising sun Wednesday carrying another 53 satellites into low-Earth orbit and adding to the ever-growing SpaceX internet constellation.
The company launched its 21st rocket of the year at 6:59 a.m. from from Launch Complex 39-A at Kennedy Space Center. Following liftoff, Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth and landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship in the Atlantic Ocean for SpaceX’s 121st overall recovery of a booster.
If the stars continue to line up for SpaceX, it could go for a record total of 60 launches. Last year, the SpaceX had 31 launches. Wednesday’s mission is also the fourth launch this month, behind April’s record of six in one month. A fifth launch for May is planned next week from Cape Canaveral.
The launch followed successful Starlink mission liftoffs on Friday and Saturday from Vandenburg Space Force Base in California and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, respectively.
Falcon 9’s second stage is currently carrying the latest Starlink batch and adding to the more than 2,600 satellites in orbit since 2019 — each one cruising at about 341 miles in altitude — although only 2,321 are operational, according to statistics tracked by astronomer Jonathan McDowell.
SpaceX has approval to place 4,408 Starlinks into service, and is seeking FCC approval to increase its presence to about 30,000 satellites with future launches on board its in-the-works Starship rocket. SpaceX’s constellation now provides internet to 32 countries around the world as part of the its plan to raise funds for future Mars colonization efforts.
