News from Cape Canaveral
Updated December 7, 2023

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December 7, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-33 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 23 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 12:07 a.m. EST today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the ninth time, having previously supported the Crew-5, GPS III-SV06, Inmarsat 16-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37 and three Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission is designated Starlink 6-33. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-33 Downrange, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

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December 2, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-31 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 23 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 11:00 p.m. EST today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the sixth time, having previously supported the Crew-6, O3b mPOWER and three Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission is designated Starlink 6-31. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-31 Streak Shot, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

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November 27, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-30 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 23 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 11:20 p.m. EST today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the 17th time, having previously supported the GPS III-SV04, GPS III-SV05, Inspiration4, Axiom-1, Nilesat-301, OneWeb-17, Badr-8 and nine Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission is designated Starlink 6-30. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-30 Streak Shot, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

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November 22, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-29 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 23 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 2:47 a.m. EST today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the 15th time, having previously supported the CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat-5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Hotbird-13G, O3b mPOWER-A, Satria and six Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission is designated Starlink 6-29. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-29 Streak Shot, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

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November 18, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 23 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 12:05 a.m. EST today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the eleventh time, having previously supported the CRS-24, Hotbird-13F, OneWeb-15, SES-18/19 and six Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission is designated Starlink 6-28. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

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November 12, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches O3b mPOWER 5/6 Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 O3b mPOWER 5/6 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the O3b mPOWER 5/6 satellites at 4:08 p.m. EST today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the ninth time, having previously supported the CRS-26, OneWeb-16, Intelsat-40E and five Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. Built by Boeing and owned and operated by SES of Luxembourg, O3b mPOWER 5/6 are a pair of broadband Internet satellites. The satellites will be deployed to medium Earth orbit at an altitude of about 5,000 miles.

Falcon 9 O3b mPOWER 5/6 Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

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November 9, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches CRS-29 Payload For NASA

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 CRS-29 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the CRS-29 payload for NASA at 8:28 p.m. EST today from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the second time, having previously supported the Crew-7 mission. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing at Landing Zone-1 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Cargo Dragon spacecraft comprising CRS-29 was being flown for the second time, having previously supported the CRS-26 mission. CRS-29 is the 29th mission in the Commercial Resupply Services contract to the International Space Station (ISS) between NASA and SpaceX. CRS-29 carries over 6,500 pounds of supplies and equipment to ISS and is expected to autonomously dock with the space station at about 5:21 a.m. EST on Saturday, November 11.

Falcon 9 CRS-29 Downrange, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

Falcon 9 CRS-29 Landing, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

Falcon 9 CRS-29 Launch/Landing, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

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November 8, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-27 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 23 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 12:05 a.m. EST today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the eleventh time, having previously supported the SES-22, Hakuto-R, Amazonas Nexus, CRS-27 and six Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission is designated Starlink 6-27. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-27 Streak Shot, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

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November 3, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-26 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 23 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 8:37 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the 18th time, having previously supported the DM-2, Anasis-II, CRS-21, Transporter-1, Transporter-3 and 12 Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission is designated Starlink 6-26. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-26 Streak Shot, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

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October 30, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-25 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 23 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 7:20 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the eighth time, having previously supported the Crew-5, GPS III-SV06, Inmarsat-16F2, CRS-28, Intelsat-G37 and two Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission is designated Starlink 6-25. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-25 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

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October 21, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-24 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 23 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 10:17 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the fourth time, having previously supported the Euclid, Axiom-2 and one Starlink mission. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 6-24, brings to a total of 5,331 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-24 Downrange, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

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October 17, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 22 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-23 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 22 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 8:39 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the 16th time, having previously supported the GPS III-SV04, GPS III-SV05, Inspiration4, Axiom-1, Nilesat-301, OneWeb-17, Badr-8 and eight Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 6-23, brings to a total of 5,287 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-23 Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

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October 13, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 22 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported by Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-22 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 22 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 7:01 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the 14th time, having previously supported the CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat-5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Hotbird-13G, O3B MPOWER-A, Satria and five Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 6-22, brings to a total of 5,265 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-22 Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

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October 13, 2023

Falcon Heavy Launches Psyche Spacecraft

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon Heavy Psyche Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket successfully launched the Psyche spacecraft at 10:19 a.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The two side boosters employed today were being flown for the fourth time, both having previously supported the USSF-44, USSF-67 and Jupiter-3 missions. The side boosters were successfully recovered today with landings at Landing Zone-1 and Landing Zone-2 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The center core booster employed today was being flown for the first time and was not recovered. The Psyche spacecraft is headed to the metal-rich Psyche asteroid, which is orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter. The spacecraft should go into orbit around the Psyche asteroid in August, 2029 at a distance of about 2.2 billion miles from Earth. The mission will also include the first deep space test of the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) system, which is designed to provide deep space communications using near infrared laser.

Falcon Heavy Psyche Side Boosters Landing, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

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October 6, 2023

Atlas V Launches Project Kuiper Protoflight Mission

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Atlas V Kuiper Protoflight Launch, Photo Courtesy United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket successfully launched the Project Kuiper Protoflight mission at 2:06 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 41 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket was being flown in the 501 configuration, featuring a five-meter payload fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur second stage. The Project Kuiper Protoflight mission consists of two satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2. The satellites are the first test satellites in the planned Kuiper broadband Internet satellite constellation, owned and operated by Amazon. The constellation, as envisioned, will consist of over 3,000 satellites launched over a six year period. The satellites launched today will be de-orbited after their test mission concludes in about a year.

Atlas V Kuiper Protoflight Launch, Photo Courtesy United Launch Alliance

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October 5, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 22 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported By Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-21 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 22 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 1:36 a.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the eighth time, having previously supported the CRS-26, OneWeb-16, Intelsat-40E and four Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 6-21, brings to a total of 5,222 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-21 Downrange, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

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September 29, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 22 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported by Cliff Lethbridge

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 22 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 10:00 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the tenth time, having previously supported the CRS-24, Hotbird-13F, OneWeb-15, SES-18/19 and five Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 6-19, brings to a total of 5,200 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-19 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

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September 23, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 22 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported by Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-18 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 22 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 11:38 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the 17th time, having previously supported the GPS III-SV03, Turksat-5A, Transporter-2, Intelsat G33/G34, Transporter-6 and eleven Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 6-18, brings to a total of 5,157 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-18 Streak Shot, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

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September 19, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 22 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported by Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-17 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 22 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 11:38 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for a record 17th time, having previously supported the Crew Demo-2, Anasis-II, CRS-21, Transporter-1, Transporter-3 and eleven Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 6-17, brings to a total of 5,135 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-17 Streak Shot, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

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September 15, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 22 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported by Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-16 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 22 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 11:38 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the fifth time, having previously supported the Crew-6, SES O3B MPOWER and two Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 6-16, brings to a total of 5,113 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-16 Streak Shot, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

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September 10, 2023

Atlas V Launches Silentbarker/NROL-107 Satellite

Reported by Cliff Lethbridge

Atlas V NROL-107 Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

Atlas V NROL-107 Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket successfully launched the Silentbarker/NROL-107 satellite at 8:47 a.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 41 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission is a joint venture between the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the United States Space Force (USSF). The satellite will be deployed in a geosynchronous orbit about 22,000 miles above Earth. Much about the mission remains secret but it has been made public that it is intended for space situational awareness, or the tracking and monitoring of satellites and other objects in geosynchronous orbit. Other elements of the mission remain classified.

Atlas V NROL-107 Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

Atlas V NROL-107 Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

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September 8, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 22 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported by Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-14 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 22 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 11:12 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the seventh time, having previously supported the CRS-26, OneWeb-16, Intelsat-40E and three Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 6-14, brings to a total of 5,070 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-14 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX

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September 3, 2023

Falcon 9 Launches 21 Starlink V2-Mini Satellites

Reported by Cliff Lethbridge

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-12 Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 21 Starlink V2-Mini satellites at 10:47 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the tenth time, having previously supported the SES-22, Hakuto-R, Amazonas Nexus, CRS-27 and five Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship, positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 6-12, brings to a total of 5,048 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites, intended to provide space-based Internet service to users worldwide. The service is currently available on all seven continents to over 1.5 million subscribers.

Falcon 9 Starlink 6-12 Downrange, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline