SpaceX successfully launched 24 of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida on Sunday (Feb. 25), marking the 18th mission of 2024 for the company. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 5:06 p.m. EST (2206 GMT).
The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket landed back on Earth approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff on the SpaceX droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. This mission marked the 13th launch and landing for this specific booster, with the majority of its flights being Starlink missions.
Meanwhile, the rocket’s upper stage continued its journey towards low Earth orbit, deploying the satellites about 65 minutes after liftoff. SpaceX aims to launch a total of 144 orbital missions in 2024.
The recent launches by SpaceX have been significant milestones for the company. The 300th successful Falcon 9 liftoff occurred on Tuesday (Feb. 20), carrying an Indonesian telecom satellite named Merah Putih 2. Additionally, on Thursday (Feb. 22), a Starlink launch tied SpaceX’s rocket reuse record with the 19th flight for that Falcon 9 first-stage booster.
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Michael Wall, a Senior Space Writer at Space.com since 2010, covers a range of topics from exoplanets to military space. His book “Out There” delves into the search for alien life and was published in 2018. With a background in evolutionary biology and science writing, Michael brings a unique perspective to the world of space exploration.
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