SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from California as Falcon 9 cadence slows (photos)
SpaceX sent 27 more of its Starlink broadband satellites to orbit today (Oct. 23), in its first Starlink launch in 11 days.
On October 23, SpaceX successfully launched its newest batch of 27 Starlink broadband internet satellites from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. The spacecraft, Starlink Group 15-15, were carried to low Earth orbit (LEO) aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket's first stage booster, B1063, executed its main engine cutoff and stage separation 2.5 minutes into flight, allowing the second stage to continue to LEO.
The Falcon 9's first stage landed on SpaceX's droneship Of Course I Still Love You approximately 20 seconds after touchdown. This marked the 36th launch and landing for B1063, which previously launched NASA's DART asteroid-smashing mission in November 2021. Following the booster's successful landing, the Falcon 9's upper stage began its second and final orbital insertion burn.
Starlinks' launches are becoming less frequent as SpaceX shifts focus towards its more powerful Starship rocket, which is designed for full reusability and can accommodate larger Version 3 Starlink satellites.
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