SpaceX ’s capriciously reliable Falcon 9 continues to impress . The skyrocket delivered 56 Starlink satellites to Earth orbit this break of day , and with a collective system of weights around 17.4 measured gross ton , it ’s now the heavy cargo ever lifted by a Falcon 9 skyrocket .
Blastoff pass at 4:22 a.m. ET Thursday , with the 229 - foot - tall ( 70 - meter ) Falcon 9 taking trajectory from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida . The first microscope stage booster , partaking in its ninth launch , returned to Earth some nine second later , landing safelyon the Just Read the Instructions droneship post north-east of the Bahamas . SpaceX laterconfirmedthat the rocket was successful in deploying all 56 Starlink satellites .
Falcon 9 launches to orbit 56 Starlink satellites — weigh in sum more than 17.4 metric short ton — marking the big payload ever flown on Falconpic.twitter.com/qrgjnm6tUQ
The Falcon 9, loaded with 56 Starlink satellites, at the moment of ignition, on Thursday, January 25.Screenshot: SpaceX
— SpaceX ( @SpaceX)January 26 , 2023
Routine poppycock , save for the weight unit involved . With a combined payload weight outstrip 17.4 metrical tons , the deputation brand the “ heaviest payload ever flown ” on a Falcon 9 , SpaceX announced in atweet . Theprevious load weight recordfor Falcon 9 was set in August 2022 , when the rocket lifted 16.7 metric ton to orbit . “ The likeliest explanation for the heavier payload seems to be another reiterative advance to Falcon 9,”accordingto Teslarati .
In terms of measure , the 56 artificial satellite fall far curtly of the Falcon 9 record set in January 2021 when therocket delivered 143 satellitesas part of the Transporter-1 rideshare mission . What ’s more , SpaceX routinely launch 60 V1.0 Starlinks for a stretch draw from 2019 to 2021 . The upgraded V1.5 units are heavier , compelling SpaceX to plunge lesser quantity with its recyclable Falcon 9 . The medium - lift rocket ’s nine Merlin engine exert 1.7 million pounds of thrust at liftoff .
The newly launched Starlinks will now ascend to their functional orbit — a airplane designed Starlink 5 - 2 . This is SpaceX ’s 2d Starlink deployment to that shell , the first being a batch of 54 satellites launched on December 28 , 2022 . This shell is mean for the ship’s company ’s second - generation Starlinks , run to considerable confusion as to which kind of satellite is survive up these days .
But the heavy , bulky Gen2s involve a skyrocket that has yet to found : spaceship . Until SpaceX ’s new megarocket is deemed flightworthy , the company plans to launch miniature Gen2s boast the same phase agent as V1.5 Starlinks , allowing for launches aboard Falcon 9s .
Back in December , when SpaceX sent the first batch of Starlinks to the Gen2 shell , many spacefaring expert acquire that the company was sending the miniature Gen2s to space . sleuth by Harvard - Smithsonian astronomer Jonathan McDowell put these rumors to rest , however , as helearned that SpaceX is still launching V1.5 Starlinks to place .
OK , I infer incorrect . Today ’s Starlinks have names from Starlink-4643 to Starlink-5434 , integrate in with the Idaho from other recent launches and so clearly off the same yield assembly line . Whatever SpaceX may connote , they are just V1.5 sats launched to the V2 Group 5 area .
— Jonathan McDowell ( @planet4589)December 29 , 2022
Today ’s launch was likely the same , with a mass of V1.5 Starlinks launched to low Earth orbit . Or at least , that ’s my best guess . As McDowell tweeted at the time , “ SpaceX are systematically vague in everything they say . ” For sure . And it does n’t help that SpaceX does not respond to inquiry from the media ; so much for CEO Elon Musk’sstated obsession with transparentness .
On December 1 , the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC)approvedthe launching of 7,500 Gen2s , out of SpaceX ’s planned 29,988 . The FCC is postpone its decision on the remaining units until a later time , say the adjournment “ will protect other satellite and terrestrial operators from harmful interference and maintain a good space environment , upgrade contention and protect spectrum and orbital resources for next utilization . ”
SpaceX recentlyperformed a full wet dress rehearsal of Starship , so it may only be a matter of time before the company can bulge launching its outsize Gen2 Starlinks to orbit .
More : SpaceX Gets ‘ fond ’ FCC Approval to Deploy Second - Generation Starlink satellite
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