Cape Canaveral, FL – After a brief grounding by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket and deployed its Starlink Group 10-9 satellites early in the morning on July 28, 2024. This launch marked the company’s return to flight status following an anomaly during a mission earlier in the month.
The Falcon 9 lifted off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A at 1:45 AM. The rocket carried 23 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit, marking another step in SpaceX’s ambitious plan to expand its global broadband internet constellation. This mission follows a temporary suspension by the FAA after a second-stage malfunction during the Starlink 9-3 mission on July 11, which left 20 satellites in a perilously low orbit due to an ice buildup on the second stage.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, expressed relief and pride in a post-launch statement: “Our team has worked tirelessly to identify and rectify the issues from the previous mission. This successful launch underscores our commitment to reliability and safety in space operations.”
The FAA’s decision to clear SpaceX for launch came after a comprehensive review of the July 11 incident. The review focused on understanding the root cause of the ice buildup and ensuring that corrective measures were implemented to prevent recurrence. The successful launch and deployment of the Starlink Group 10-9 satellites signify a return to normalcy for SpaceX’s aggressive launch schedule.
The Starlink project, which aims to create a constellation of satellites to provide high-speed internet access globally, has been both celebrated and criticized. While it promises to bring internet access to remote and underserved regions, astronomers have voiced concerns over the satellites’ brightness and potential interference with astronomical observations. SpaceX has been working on mitigating these impacts by implementing measures to reduce the satellites’ reflectivity.
The Falcon 9’s first stage booster B1069 successfully landed on the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, marking its 17th successful landing. This feat is part of SpaceX’s strategy to reuse rockets, significantly reducing the cost of access to space.
The success of this launch allows SpaceX to resume its normal launch cadence. Wasting no time at all, SpaceX plans Starlink missions from both Florida and California early Sunday morning July 28. It also paves the way for several critical upcoming missions, including SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station and the privately funded Polaris Dawn mission, which features the first commercial spacewalk. These missions are crucial for maintaining and expanding the human presence in space, testing new technologies, and furthering scientific research.
