At 02:39 Beijing time on May 15, 2024 (14:39 EDT on the 14th), 8 groups of 7 batches (G8-7) of 20 small second-generation "Starlink" satellites were launched by the "Falcon 9" v1.2 (Block 5) carrier rocket from the SLC-4E station of Vandenberg Space Force Base on the west coast of the United States, and the satellites were sent into the scheduled low-earth orbit.
The Starlink Group 8-7 mission is the 35th batch launch of the Starlink low-orbit communication satellite constellation in 2024, the 165th batch launch in total, and the 78th batch launch of the second-generation Starlink satellite. So far, the total number of "Starlink" satellites has reached 6,438, of which 788 will be launched in 2024. The mission included 13 mobile phones directly connected to the satellites, stacked on top of the middle of the satellite assembly.
This rocket uses the 18th flight of the first stage B1063.18, using the under-the-line recovery (ASDS), 8 minutes and 21 seconds after ignition and take-off, after 2 deceleration ignitions, the first stage vertically landed on the straight deck of the OCISLY automatic recovery ship, which is the 309th recovery landing of the first stage module of the "Falcon 9" and "Falcon Heavy" rocket cores. On the afternoon of March 11, Beijing time, the first-class B1063.17 carried out the Starlink G7-17 launch mission, 65 days after the mission.
This launch is the 50th launch of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle in 2024, the 16th launch of Vandenberg Space Force Base, the 57th launch of the United States, and the 92nd launch of the world.
Author: Mulan Xingzhou