Historic Rocket Launch Sends 10,000th Satellite into Orbit
The sky is the limit for a certain rocket company, which is celebrating two extraordinary achievements in one launch today. This historic event sees the 10,000th broadband satellite being launched into space, and it's also the record-setting 31st launch for the rocket's first stage, known as Booster 1067.
Setting the Stage for a Spectacular Launch
The launch took place during a four-hour window that began at 10:52 a.m. EDT from a space station in Florida. The Falcon 9 rocket was scheduled to carry 28 broadband satellites into orbit. These satellites are part of a larger network that provides internet service to millions of customers worldwide.
A Milestone in Satellite Deployment
This launch takes the total number of satellites deployed by this company to over 10,000. This is an impressive feat for a company that began building its massive satellite network only a few years ago, launching its first two prototype satellites in February 2018. The public got its first taste of the service in October 2020, and the commercial rollout began the following year.
A Look at the Numbers
The pace of launches has been astounding. Last year, the company launched 89 missions to deploy these satellites. This year, they've already surpassed that number. And they're not stopping anytime soon. They've already been granted permission to deploy up to 12,000 satellites, and there are plans for the network to eventually consist of more than 30,000 satellites.
Of the nearly 10,000 satellites already launched, most are still operational. Out of the total, around 8,610 are currently in service. The others have been guided back to Earth to burn up in the atmosphere, as each satellite has an operational life of about five years.
Reusable Rocket Technology
The company's use of reusable rocket technology has played a key part in its ability to launch so many satellites. After Booster 1067 launched the satellites into orbit, it returned to Earth around 8.5 minutes later, landing in the Atlantic Ocean on a drone ship. This marked the 31st launch and touchdown for this particular booster.
This successful reusability strategy is helping to lower the cost of spaceflight and increase its efficiency. But the company isn't stopping there. They're currently developing a fully reusable rocket, which could be a game-changer in space exploration. Unlike the Falcon 9 and its sibling, the Falcon Heavy, which are only partially reusable as their upper stages are expendable, this new rocket is designed to be completely reusable.
Into Orbit and Beyond
After the launch, the upper stage of the Falcon 9 carried the 28 broadband satellites into low Earth orbit. They were deployed about 64 minutes after the launch. With this successful mission, the company continues to blaze a trail in the space industry, reaching new heights and breaking records with every launch.