Update Jan. 18, 9:08 p.m. EST (0212 UTC): SpaceX confirmed deployment of the Starlink satellites.
SpaceX continued the expansion of its Starlink internet network with the launch of 29 new satellites Sunday.
Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida happened at 6:31:40 p.m. EST (2331:40 UTC).
A cold front pushing through the Florida peninsula presented some weather challenges, particularly at the opening of the window. Forecasters with the 45th Weather Squadron, based at Cape Canaveral, on Saturday predicted a 60-percent chance of acceptable conditions at the opening of the window.
The main concerns Sunday was for a violation of the launch weather rules associated with cumulus cloud, thick cloud and liftoff winds. The forecast called for a temperature of 57 degrees F (14 degrees Celsius), winds from the north at 12-28 mph (19-45 km) and scattered clouds at 1,500 feet (450 metres) and broken clouds at 20,000 feet (6,000 meters).
The mission was designated Starlink 6-100, although this is the 99th Group 6 launch in total and 347th dedicated launch for SpaceX’s internet from space service.
After sending the satellites on their way, Falcon 9 first stage booster B1080, landed on the drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ about 8 minutes 20 seconds after liftoff. It was the 24th flight for this particular booster, which entered the SpaceX fleet in May 2023 with the launch of the Axiom-2 commercial mission to the International Space Station.
The 29 Starlink V2 Mini satellites were released into a 164×157 mile (264×253 km) orbit inclined at 43 degrees to the Equator just over an hour into flight.
