47 more Spacex Starlink satellites are now in orbit after a successful launch atop a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The 47 Version 1.5 satellites launched at 12:19 a.m. PT (07:19 UTC) on a 43-degree orbital inclination. Following stage separation, the Falcon 9, Booster 1075, landed on the droneship ‘Of Course I Still Love You.’
This time, a bit of a different launch for SpaceX as the second stage performed a dog-leg maneuver and flew over the Baja Peninsula of Mexico, making it the lowest orbital inclination launch from the West Coast of the United States.
This is not the first time SpaceX has had the second stage fly over land as they have flown over Cuba during roughly the same stage of flight after launching from Florida on a polar orbit launch.
During this phase of the flight, the second stage of the spacecraft reaches a significant altitude and attains a high velocity. In the event of any malfunction or irregularity, the immense atmospheric friction encountered would cause the majority of the vehicle to disintegrate and burn up.
This disintegration process eliminates the risk of any debris reaching the ground and posing a danger to individuals. Due to the combination of altitude and speed, the second stage’s encounter with the Earth’s atmosphere acts as a protective barrier, ensuring the safety of those on the ground.
As of the latest update from Jonathan McDowell’s Starlink tracker, SpaceX has successfully launched a total of 4,642 Starlink satellites into space. Out of these, a significant number, precisely 3,688 satellites, have been placed in their designated operational orbits.
This information indicates that a substantial portion of the Starlink constellation is now actively functioning in space, contributing to SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to provide global satellite internet coverage. It’s worth noting that these figures are subject to change as SpaceX continues its ambitious deployment of the Starlink satellite network.
The successful completion of this launch was made possible by Booster 1075, which embarked on its fourth flight. Prior to this mission, Booster 1075 had been utilized for two Starlink missions and the Transport & Tracking Layer flight 1.
This particular launch not only marked the 40th Falcon 9 mission conducted by SpaceX in the current year but also served as the 42nd orbital launch in the company’s history. Notably, SpaceX has achieved an impressive streak of 206 consecutive successful Falcon 9 missions, further highlighting their consistent track record in space exploration and launch operations.
Shortly before the launch, SpaceX introduced a novel feature that allowed viewers to switch between camera views of the mission in real-time via Twitter. This announcement provided an exciting and distinctive way to track the progress of the launch.
SpaceX offered an enhanced viewing experience by offering multiple camera angles, enabling spectators to choose their preferred perspectives and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the mission’s developments.
This innovative approach exemplifies SpaceX’s commitment to engaging and involving the public in their space exploration endeavors, fostering a sense of participation and excitement surrounding their launches.
With the newly introduced feature by SpaceX, viewers had the opportunity to switch between various camera views during the launch. These included the main webcast view, offering a comprehensive overview of the mission; a perspective from the drone ship, capturing the landing or recovery of the first stage; a downward view from Booster 1075, allowing observation of the base of the rocket; and finally, a view from the second stage, potentially showcasing the separation or deployment of payloads.
This diverse range of camera angles provided a more immersive and detailed experience, enabling viewers to witness different aspects of the launch and gain unique insights into the various stages of the mission.
In addition to the previously mentioned camera views, there were also additional perspectives capturing the launch pad itself. However, it seems that the replays of those particular views have been removed.
Nonetheless, the introduction of such camera angles during the launch indicates a growing effort by SpaceX to enhance the viewing experience and provide more comprehensive coverage.
While the replays may not be available for this specific launch, it is hopeful that SpaceX will continue to explore and expand these features, offering even more engaging and immersive views for future launches, allowing viewers to witness the complete launch experience from various vantage points.
SpaceX’s upcoming mission involves the launch of another batch of Starlink satellites. The launch is scheduled to take place from Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
However, the specific launch date and time are yet to be confirmed by SpaceX, and it is anticipated to occur no earlier than Friday morning, subject to final confirmation from the company.
This mission will contribute to the ongoing expansion of the Starlink satellite constellation, furthering SpaceX’s goal of providing global satellite internet coverage. Stay tuned for updates from SpaceX regarding the exact timing of the launch.
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Information Source: teslarati
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