On a transparent night and under a vibrant Moon, SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 to successfully deliver 56 version 1.5 Starlink satellites to orbit. The launch from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station occurred on time at 3:31 AM ET.
Following lift-off, the Falcon 9 pitched down range to move on a South East trajectory needed for the Group 5-6 batch of Starlinks. The primary stage launching this group is B1069, now having accomplished 7 flights. Following a 2-minute and 30-second burn of the 9 Merlin 1D engines, the primary and second stages separated. Just 4 minutes later, the primary stage initiated its entry burn to decelerate and protect itself to return back through the atmosphere and visual from the Space Coast despite being tons of of miles down range.
Meanwhile, the 2nd stage continued its approach to a parking orbit.
![](https://www.teslarati.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/U5A0078-Edit.jpg)
Falcon 9 re-enters the atmosphere because the 2nd stage continues to orbit (Richard Angle)
Just 8 minutes and 24 seconds after launch, B1069 successfully landed on the drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas,’ which will likely be brought back to Port Canaveral in a number of days to start refurbishment for its eighth flight. After a coast in its initial parking orbit, the second stage performed a fast burn, shut down, after which deployed the 56 Starlink satellites into their orbits just over an hour after the launch. SpaceX has now delivered greater than 4,300 satellites to orbit, of which greater than 3,400 are lively.
Deployment of 56 Starlink satellites confirmed
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 4, 2023
With this launch, SpaceX is establishing for a busy month, with a possible of at the least 5 Starlink launches and a pair of economic payloads between the Florida and California launch sites. Currently, next up is one other launch from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and also you guessed it, more Starlink satellites will likely be heading to orbit.