SpaceX to launch an additional 24 Starlink satellites

22.11.2024

On November 21, 2024, SpaceX successfully launched its Starlink 6-66 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 11:07 a.m. EST (1607 UTC), carrying a new batch of Starlink satellites. Weather conditions were favorable for the launch, with Space Force meteorologists giving a 90% chance of good weather, although concerns about liftoff winds remained.

This launch marked the fourth Falcon 9 mission in just a few days, following SpaceX’s successful Starship Flight 6 mission on Tuesday, which included the first daytime splashdown of its Ship upper stage. The Falcon 9’s first-stage booster, tail number B1069, flew for the 20th time. It had previously supported multiple missions, including CRS-24, OneWeb 15, and 15 other Starlink flights.

Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, the booster successfully landed on SpaceX’s droneship, “A Shortfall of Gravitas.” This landing was the 86th on ASOG and the 372nd overall for SpaceX’s reusable boosters. The company highlighted the significance of reuse in its operations, noting that at least one half of the mission’s payload fairings had completed 21 flights, marking a milestone in SpaceX’s reuse strategy.

SpaceX’s ambitious goals continue for the year, with 21 more launches planned before the end of 2024. If successful, SpaceX will reach 136 orbital launches by year’s end, including two Falcon Heavy missions. The company experienced only one Falcon 9 failure in 2024, during the Starlink 9-3 mission, due to an upper stage issue.

This launch highlights SpaceX’s continued success in deploying its Starlink constellation, contributing to the company’s goal of global internet coverage and reinforcing the value of rocket reusability in reducing spaceflight costs.