SpaceX successfully launched its 134th mission, a new record, on January 1st, deploying 21 Starlink satellites into lower Earth orbit. The launch, which took place at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marked SpaceX’s third mission in three days.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for the company, with 13 of the newly deployed satellites possessing direct-to-cellphone capabilities. The deployment was deemed successful by officials, with the 45th Weather Squadron predicting a 90% chance of “go for launch” based on weather conditions.
Notably, the first stage booster’s reusable technology enabled SpaceX to quickly recover and reuse it, allowing for rapid turnaround times between launches. This highlights the efficiency of SpaceX’s innovative approach to space exploration and satellite deployment.
The successful launch follows two previous Starlink deployments, one at the Vanderberg Space Force Station in California and another at Cape Canaveral for the four-satellite deployment for Astranis.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/spacex-ends-2024-round-starlink-132047300.html