SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites, Pushing Constellation Past 11,000 in Orbit
Updated
Updated · Spaceflight Now · Aug 18
SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites, Pushing Constellation Past 11,000 in Orbit
1 articles · Updated · Spaceflight Now · Aug 18
Summary
24 Starlink satellites were deployed after a Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 9:01 p.m. PDT, taking the network to just over 11,000 spacecraft currently in orbit.
The Starlink 17-50 mission is part of SpaceX’s continued broadband buildout, with the in-orbit total including satellites not yet fully operational, failed units and craft preparing for deorbit.
Booster B1097 flew for the 12th time on the mission, having previously launched Sentinel-6B, NROL-172, Transporter-17, Twilight and seven earlier Starlink batches.
A little more than 8 minutes after liftoff, B1097 landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific—its 219th recovery there and SpaceX’s 651st Falcon booster landing overall.