A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket made a remarkable ascent into the clear blue skies of California on Saturday, September 6, after breaking free from a typical fog layer at its launch site. The rocket lifted off at precisely 2:06 p.m. EDT (1806 GMT or 11:06 a.m. PDT local time) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) located at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Approximately eight minutes and four seconds post-launch, the Falcon 9 rocket transitioned from the bright blue atmosphere to the profound blackness of space. This mission involved the deployment of 24 Starlink satellites as part of Group 17-2, which were scheduled to enter low Earth orbit around 53 minutes after liftoff.
In a display of precision engineering, the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage, designated as booster 1075, achieved its 20th successful landing, touching down on its four landing legs atop the sea-based platform known as the Of Course I Still Love You droneship. This platform was strategically positioned in the Pacific Ocean to facilitate the recovery.
This successful launch expanded SpaceX's ambitious megaconstellation initiative, which aims to deliver high-speed internet service to underserved regions around the globe where connectivity is often scarce. With the addition of these 24 satellites, the Starlink network now boasts nearly 9,000 units, further enhancing its capacity to provide reliable internet access.
Saturday’s mission marked a significant milestone as it represented the 112th Falcon 9 launch of the year and the impressive 530th launch since SpaceX's inception in 2010. This continuous activity underscores SpaceX's commitment to advancing space technology and expanding global internet coverage through its innovative Starlink program.
