Related: SpaceXs Starlink satellite megaconstellation launches in photosThe first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas quickly after launching 49 Starlink satellites to orbit on Jan. 18, 2022. (Image credit: SpaceX) It was the 10th successful landing for this particular booster, which had previously released six dedicated Starlink objectives, the GPS III-3 satellite for the U.S. military, the Turksat 5A satellite for Turkey and the Transporter 2 rideshare objective, which lofted 85 small satellites and three Starlink craft.The Falcon 9s 2nd stage, meanwhile, kept powering its way to orbit, ultimately deploying the 49 satellites roughly 15 minutes after launch. The 2nd phase was out of range of ground stations when that occurred, so confirmation of implementation success didnt come until about an hour later.Todays launch was SpaceXs 36th dedicated Starlink objective, and it brought the overall number of Starlink satellites lofted to more than 2,000. SpaceX currently has consent from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to release a total of 12,000 Starlink satellites, and the business has actually filed documents with the International Telecommunication Union to loft an additional 30,000.
SpaceXs Starlink internet megaconstellation keeps growing.A two-stage SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with 49 Starlink satellites lifted off from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida today (Jan. 18) at 9:02 p.m. EST (0203 GMT on Jan. 19). About 9 minutes later on, the rockets first stage came down to Earth for a pinpoint touchdown on the SpaceX droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast. Related: SpaceXs Starlink satellite megaconstellation launches in photosThe first phase of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket bases on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas shortly after releasing 49 Starlink satellites to orbit on Jan. 18, 2022. It was the 10th launch and landing for this particular booster. (Image credit: SpaceX) It was the 10th effective landing for this specific booster, which had actually previously introduced 6 dedicated Starlink missions, the GPS III-3 satellite for the U.S. armed force, the Turksat 5A satellite for Turkey and the Transporter 2 rideshare objective, which lofted 85 little satellites and 3 Starlink craft.The Falcon 9s 2nd phase, meanwhile, kept powering its way to orbit, eventually deploying the 49 satellites approximately 15 minutes after launch. The second phase ran out series of ground stations when that took place, so verification of implementation success didnt come up until about an hour later.Todays launch was SpaceXs 36th dedicated Starlink objective, and it brought the overall number of Starlink satellites lofted to more than 2,000. All of those spacecraft have introduced considering that May 2019 other than for 2 prototypes known as TinTin A and TinTin B, which lifted off in February 2018. Many of the Starlink satellites are alive and well.” 1,469 Starlink satellites active. 272 transferring to operational orbits. Laser links trigger soon,” SpaceX creator and CEO Elon Musk stated by means of Twitter on Saturday (Jan. 15). ” Laser links” describes an upgrade that SpaceX carried out in 2021, which enables Starlink satellites to communicate with each other efficiently without relying on ground relays. We need to see many more Starlink introduces over the coming months and weeks. SpaceX currently has permission from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to introduce an overall of 12,000 Starlink satellites, and the company has actually submitted paperwork with the International Telecommunication Union to loft an additional 30,000. Starlink isnt the only broadband megaconstellation in the works. For example, OneWeb is constructing a network of 648 internet satellites and has actually currently released almost 400 of them into orbit. Amazon has actually announced plans to release about 3,200 web satellites of its own, and California startup Astra recently submitted paperwork for its own megaconstellation of about 13,000 craft.Todays effective rocket landing was the 103rd total for SpaceX, which consistently recycles space hardware to increase performance and decrease expenses. Both halves of the payload fairing– the protective nose cone that surrounds satellites during launch– that flew today already had one mission under their belts, and SpaceX intended to fish them out of the sea for additional reuse. Mike Wall is the author of “Out There” (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or on Facebook..