Space.com reported the launch and mission as follows, “A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a new fleet of Starlink satellites into orbit and landed on a platform in the Atlantic Ocean late Saturday in what was a record-tying 16th flight for the booster.
The Falcon 9 rocket topped with 54 of SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites lit up the late night sky as it soared into orbit Saturday (July 15) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff occurred at 11:50 p.m. EDT (0350 GMT on July 16).
The smooth SpaceX launch came one day late, following an attempted to launch early Friday that SpaceX had to abort at the last minute due to high liquid oxygen levels on one of the rocket’s nine first-stage engines, SpaceX components engineer Zachary Luppen said during live commentary.
The Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth for a vertical touchdown about 8.5 minutes after launch on the SpaceX droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas.
It was the 16th launch and landing for this booster, according to a SpaceX mission description. That ties a record set just last Sunday (July 9) by a different Falcon 9 first stage flying another Starlink mission. The landing also marked SpaceX’s 207th orbital rocket landing and 247th mission overall, Luppen said.”
Please use the following spaceX.com link for a replay of the launch .
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