SpaceX
SpaceX launches Falcon 9 Starlink mission from Florida (March 15, 2024)
On March 15, 2024, SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites to low Earth using the Falcon 9 reusable rocket. The liftoff took place from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The mission has been scrubbed two times in the past. The earliest attempt has been paused due to an issue in the transporter erector’s cradle arm. However, the vehicle and payload remained in good shape during these two scrubs.
SpaceX cut off the main engine at 2:50 minutes in the mission time and started the second stage’s engine to take the payload into orbit. This step was closely followed by payload fairings deployment.
Liftoff from pad 39A in Florida! pic.twitter.com/VR4UihAiIZ
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 16, 2024
Falcon 9 lands on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, completing our 25th launch and landing of the year pic.twitter.com/rUwU5KwQw4
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 16, 2024
The first stage in the meantime performed entry burns. After 2 minutes of atmospheric ride, the first stage deployed landing legs and landed on a droneship. This was a record 19th flight for the first first-stage booster and it shows the rapid reusability of the SpaceX Falcon rockets.
The latest launch comes a day after Starship’s third flight test which achieved several new milestones for the rocket company. It has cleared the launch pad with 33 raptor engines ignited.
Starship also reached orbit which was a primary goal for the mission. Other milestones of the mission such as the in-orbit propellant transfer demo and payload door opening/closing sequence were also demonstrated.