Replace 7:32 p.m. EDT: SpaceX confirmed deployment of the 23 Starlink satellites.
SpaceX accomplished a Falcon 9 launch, highlighted by the corporate’s three hundredth booster touchdown thus far. The Starlink 6-53 mission additionally marked the thirtieth orbital launch from Florida in 2024.
Liftoff from House Launch Advanced 40 at Cape Canaveral House Power Station occurred at 6:17 p.m. EDT (2217 UTC). The forty fifth Climate Squadron forecast a better than 95 % likelihood of favorable climate at liftoff.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, tail quantity B1078, made its ninth launch on this flight. It beforehand launched NASA’s Crew-6 mission to the Worldwide House Station, USSF-124 and 5 Starlink flights.
About eight and a half minutes after liftoff, B1078 landed on the SpaceX droneship, ‘Simply Learn the Directions.’ Along with this being the three hundredth Falcon booster touchdown general, it was the 79th touchdown for JRTI and the 233rd droneship touchdown thus far.
The 23 Starlink satellites onboard this mission add to the 5,851 at present on orbit, based on astronomer and professional orbital tracker, Jonathan McDowell. Previous to this mission, 610 Starlink satellites had been launched to low Earth orbit in 2024 over 27 missions. Separation of the satellites is anticipated to happen an hour and 5 minutes into flight.
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Simply Learn the Directions droneship, finishing Falcon’s three hundredth touchdown! pic.twitter.com/1YHqiHWjkN
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 23, 2024
