SpaceX Launches 23 Starlink Satellites Amid Scrubbed Launch Attempt

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on Monday morning, marking the 17th flight for the first-stage booster. The launch followed a previous attempt on Sunday that was scrubbed just 46 seconds before liftoff. Despite the setback, SpaceX successfully deployed the satellite payload and landed the booster safely on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.

Key Takeaways:

  • SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on Monday morning using a Falcon 9 rocket.
  • The launch marked the 17th flight for the first-stage booster, which landed safely on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.
  • A previous launch attempt on Sunday was scrubbed just 46 seconds before liftoff due to unspecified reasons.
  • SpaceX successfully deployed the satellite payload about an hour after liftoff, and the rocket took a northeastern trajectory before detaching and returning to Earth.
  • The Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX's ongoing mission to provide global internet connectivity.
  • SpaceX launched a separate Falcon 9 rocket carrying two communication satellites for Norway's Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission from California on Sunday.

Statistics:

  • 23 Starlink satellites were launched into low-Earth orbit on Monday morning.
  • The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 6:38 a.m. EDT.
  • The first-stage booster landed safely on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.
  • The Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX's ongoing mission to provide global internet connectivity.
  • The launch marked the 17th flight for the first-stage booster.
  • 46 seconds: the time remaining before Sunday's launch attempt was scrubbed.

Sources:

  • UPI (Clyde Hughes), Aug 12
  • SpaceX's social media account ( tweeting "Rise and shine with Falcon 9" after the launch)