SpaceX is set to launch 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, on May 14, 2024 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the satellites lifted off at two different time slots due to weather conditions. The first attempt was scheduled for May 13 at 9:29 a.m. PT but was postponed, and the second attempt took place on May 14 at 2:39 p.m. EDT (1839 GMT; 11:39 a.m. local California time). Thirty-five of these launches have been dedicated to building out the Starlink megaconstellation, which currently consists of over 5,900 working satellites.
The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage made a successful vertical touchdown on the SpaceX droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean following stage separation. This marked the 18th launch and landing for this particular first stage. The upper stage carried the Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit, where they were deployed about 61 minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 14, carrying 20 Starlink satellites. (Image credit: SpaceX via X) The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket has been reused multiple times, with this being its eighteenth launch and landing.
SpaceX's Starlink megaconstellation currently consists of over 5,900 working satellites. (Image credit: SpaceX via X) The mission was the company's 50th orbital mission of the year. The previous launches included Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, Iridium OneWeb, SDA-0B, and 12 Starlink missions.
The launch was covered extensively by various news outlets. SpaceNews reported that the mission targeted Tuesday for a Falcon 9 launch of 20 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The publication also mentioned that this is the eighteenth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission.
Space.com reported that SpaceX launched 20 Starlink satellites on May 14, marking the company's 50th orbital mission of the year. The publication noted that thirty-five of these launches have been dedicated to building out the Starlink megaconstellation.
KSBY reported that SpaceX is launching a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 14, with backup opportunities available on May 15. The publication also mentioned that the first-stage booster has been used seventeen previous times and is expected to land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship in the Pacific Ocean shortly after liftoff.
WESH reported that SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink internet satellites to low-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sunday night. The mission lifted off at its scheduled time of 8:53 p.m.
The launch was significant as it marked the company's fifty-first orbital mission of the year and brought the total number of working Starlink satellites to over 6,000.
