23 more Starlink satellites were successfully launched at 2:47 AM ET (07:47 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The launch was originally scheduled for launch at 1:47 AM ET, however the Falcon 9 was raised to vertical at SLC-40 a bit later than expected, leading to only a slight delay. Once the rocket was raised, the countdown flowed to a smooth launch for SpaceX.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/uU4a2BYBS3
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 22, 2023
These 23 Starlink satellites are an element of Group 6-29 and were launched into the identical 43-degree orbital inclination as the entire previous Group 6 satellites. They were deployed just over an hour after launching from SLC-40.
This was the 86th orbital mission of the yr for SpaceX, which continues to be targeting to suit 100 launches in 2023, and at the speed of launches, there may be a very good likelihood SpaceX will meet this goal so long as no unexpected delays occur.
If SpaceX desires to eclipse this goal in 2024, they’d likely either have to utilize the flexibility of the Falcon 9 to return to the landing site or introduce one other droneship. At the present rate of launches, their fleet of drone ships and fairing recovery vessels are near their limit, and in some cases, the fairing recovery ship has been staying out for two consecutive missions to retrieve 4 fairing halves before heading back into Port Canaveral.
With this launch, one other 15-flight booster was added to the fleet, with Booster 1067 joining the ranks and making it 6 boosters with at the least 15 flights to space and back.
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 smooth landing on ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ about eight and a half minutes after liftoff and can return to Port Canaveral in the following few days.
Coming up next is one more Starlink mission, but this time there may be a five-day break for crews to permit them a likelihood to get home for Thanksgiving. As of now, the following mission isn’t any sooner than November twenty seventh.
Do you’re thinking that SpaceX will make it to 100 missions this yr, or will fleet limitations or other delays keep them just short?