Cape Canaveral, Florida – SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket on Monday evening from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 23 Starlink satellites. This mission marked a significant milestone as the 175th flight for SpaceX from its primary launch pad. The liftoff of the Starlink 6-46 mission took place at 7:42 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-40, marking the 20th mission launched from Florida in 2024.
The Falcon 9 booster used for this mission, known as B1078, made its eighth flight, having previously supported various missions including NASA’s Crew-6 mission and several Starlink launches. Following liftoff, the booster successfully landed on the SpaceX droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas,’ making it the 62nd landing on the droneship and the 228th booster landing overall.
SpaceX’s Starlink constellation is set to expand to 5,680 satellites in orbit, with over 6,000 Starlink satellites launched to date. The company continues to advance its satellite internet network, providing connectivity to remote areas and expanding global coverage.
Earlier on the same day in Texas, SpaceX conducted a static fire test of Ship 29, the upper stage vehicle for the upcoming fourth integrated flight test (IFT-4) of its Starship rocket. The test involved a full-duration static fire of all six Raptor engines, demonstrating progress in the development of SpaceX’s ambitious Starship program.
SpaceX’s continued achievements in space exploration and technology development highlight the company’s commitment to advancing the capabilities of commercial spaceflight. With regular launches and innovative projects like Starlink and Starship, SpaceX remains a prominent player in the aerospace industry, pushing boundaries and driving progress in space exploration and satellite technology.