SpaceX launches 60 more Starlink satellites; The constellation has already exceeded 1,700 units

On Wednesday (26), SpaceX launched another wave of Starlink satellites into Earth’s orbit. As usual, the launch was carried out with a Falcon 9 rocket, which flew a second time, to bring 60 new equipment into space. Now, they join other units launched on previous missions, forming a constellation that already includes more than 1,700 satellites.

About nine minutes after launch, the first stage of the missile returned to Earth and landed on the ship “Read instructions only”. The B1063 propeller, used in launch today, is one of the newest members of the frequently-flying missile family, and now has two launches and landings in its history.

It was used for the first time in the launch of the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite, which was implemented through a partnership between NASA and the European Space Agency. In addition, this mission was Flight 119 conducted with a Falcon 9 propeller, and Flight 66 conducted with a reused rocket. It was the fourth time that SpaceX had launched another batch of satellites with a Falcon 9 missile in just four weeks, and the accelerated launch pace is expected to continue until next month.

Falcon 9 First Stage Landed Aboard a Drone Just Read the Instructions – SpaceX’s No. 85 Orbital Class Rocket Cannon! pic.twitter.com/LeZEBX7prY

– SpaceX (SpaceX) May 26, 2021

Subsequently, SpaceX confirmed that the satellites had been successfully deployed in the planet’s orbit.

60 Starlink satellites have been confirmed deployed pic.twitter.com/qBtLpzV9ya

– SpaceX (SpaceX) May 26, 2021

With this mission, SpaceX already has 1,737 Starlink satellites in orbit, the total that includes test satellites. However, it should be noted that the company has an official mandate to significantly expand this figure, which should reach 12 thousand units in the not-too-distant future. This process and other launches already made have formed a huge group of satellites that in the future will provide high-speed connectivity and low latency to users around the world, even those who live in rural or remote areas.

Currently, the service is still in beta testing and already has users in regions of the United States, as well as Canada and the United Kingdom.

Source: Space.com