SpaceX Has Now Launched 1,612 Satellites With Two Rockets & 32 Launches!

SpaceX launched its latest Starlink mission from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida late at night local time yesterday. The mission was a special one in multiple ways, as not only did it mark the final launch of the Starlink 1.5 satellites, but it also set a new record that saw the firm not only reuse a first-stage rocket for the 16th time but do it twice in just a couple of days. Today's mission was launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster 1060. It joined booster 1058 to become another rocket in the company's and the industry's history of launching and landing for the sixteenth time.

SpaceX's Two Rockets Have Launched More Satellites Than Most Countries

Yesterday's launch was the final launch of SpaceX's Starlink V1.5 satellites. These satellites have been central to expanding Starlink's global connectivity and ocean coverage since these were the first spacecraft that featured optical or laser connectivity. This feature enables them to share data instead of routing it to ground stations, enabling SpaceX to expand its coverage footprint.

The launch came after an earlier attempt which saw SpaceX scrub the mission less than a minute before launch as the Falcon 9 entered its autonomous countdown. To verify the rocket's performance, the firm tested it through a static fire on Saturday to ensure that it was in working condition. SpaceX shared during yesterday's webcast that the launch was scrubbed due to high levels of liquid oxygen in one of the Falcon 9's engines.

After each launch, SpaceX inspects every rocket, and since the Merlin 1D engines use kerosene as their fuel, their turbines often see high amounts of soot deposits. A rocket engine has several turbines, some of which ignite the fuel earlier to drive the rest of the components.

A small fire is visible under the Falcon 9 after it landed for the record 16th time yesterday. Image: SpaceX

The mission was SpaceX's 27th launch for the year, launching 54 Starlink V1.5 satellites to low Earth orbit. According to SpaceX, these satellites are the heavy lifters in the Starlink constellation since they currently represent roughly 67% of the total satellites in orbit. SpaceX also shared that the laser links on the satellites can transfer data as far as 2,700 kilometers away, and they also help Starlink manage peak traffic in congested areas.

This launch was SpaceX's 246th mission to date, but based on its current trajectory, it might be difficult for the firm to meet its self-set goal of 100 launches in the calendar year 2023.

It was also the second time a Falcon 9 booster launched and landed 16 times - another new record for SpaceX. SpaceX's previous launch was the first time a Falcon 9 rocket had been used 16 times, and the boosters for today's and the previous launch numbered 1060 and 1058, respectively.

Both of them have launched nearly the same number of satellites. Our estimates suggest that 1060 has lifted 813 spacecraft to orbit, while 1058 has launched 799. However, for the latter, several missions have been for NASA's crew and cargo missions, which are not counted. Cumulatively, the two rockets have launched 1,612 satellites to date.

July will be an exciting month for SpaceX since the firm is heading for a rare Falcon Heavy launch later this month. This launch is slated to provide some remarkable views, as it will be the first time both Falcon Heavy's side boosters will land on SpaceX's drone ships. At the same time, the company is also busy building its launchpad for the Starship rocket in Boca Chica, Texas. The latest reports suggest that SpaceX has tested the orbital launch mount; however, the status of the next Starshp launch's Super Heavy booster is unclear.

Written by Ramish Zafar