In an unprecedented achievement, SpaceX executed two launches from Florida within a span of just four hours, demonstrating its ability to surpass its own launch frequency records set in 2023, with a view to raising the standard even higher in 2024.
The first launch took place at 5:52 pm. EDT on Saturday, March 30 from Kennedy Space Center, with a Falcon 9 launching the telecommunications satellite Eutelsat 36D into orbit. Almost immediately thereafter, another Falcon 9 lifted off at 9:30 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral, carrying 23 Starlink satellites into space.
SpaceX’s third launch
The company had a third launch planned for later that evening from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. However, adverse weather conditions forced the postponement of this event, highlighting the company’s relentless pace of launches.
This ambitious schedule reinforces SpaceX’ s dominant position in the space launch sector. Under Elon Musk’s leadership, the company achieved a record 96 Falcon 9 missions in 2023, surpassing its own mark from the previous year. For this year, SpaceX is targeting 144 orbital missions.
In addition, SpaceX could increase flights of its Starship prototype up to nine times in a year, pending Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) approval.
Rocket reuse
When it comes to the reusability of its rockets, SpaceX continues to break barriers. The Falcon 9 rockets involved in Saturday’s launches made successful landings at sea less than ten minutes after liftoff. The rocket used for the Starlink mission mission landed for the eighteenth time, while the Eutelsat 36D rocket landed for the twelfth time, with a company booster, reaching a total of 19 flights.
The Eutelsat 36D satellite was placed in geostationary transfer orbit about thirty minutes after its launch, destined to provide television services in Europe, Russia and Africa. Meanwhile, the 23 Starlink satellites joined the more than 5,600 Internet satellites already operating in low-Earth orbit.
This impressive display of technology and efficiency not only underscores the company’s ability to lead in the space race, but also illustrates the company’s potential of rocket reuse as a sustainable strategy for space exploration. Looking ahead, the industry could see a revolution in reduced costs and increased flight frequency, opening new doors for space research and global connectivity. This innovative approach promises to change the landscape of space travel, making access to space more accessible for a variety of scientific, commercial and telecommunications missions.
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Source: interestingengineering.com
Photo: shutterstock
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