SpaceX launches first operational Starlink mission and achieves further reusability milestone

by | Nov 12, 2019 | Launches, Satellites, Seradata News, SpaceX

Lifting-off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has lifted-off for the fourth time. This mission took place at 1456 GMT, on 11 November 2019, launching the second batch of 60 Starlink satellites into orbit. Following on from the first launch in May 2019, which carried 60 “test” satellites, this mission carried “operational” units.

These units are reported to be a more advanced series with greater communications capacity. The satellites were also launched into an initial orbit 150 km lower than the previously used one, the idea being that if a satellite fails soon after launch it will re-enter quicker.

This mission saw the Falcon 9 first-stage, known as B1048, being used for the fourth time. This stage has previously launched an Iridium NEXT mission, Saocom-1A and Nusantara Satu. Additionally, this mission is utilising previously flown payload fairings in a first for SpaceX. These fairings were recovered following the Arabsat-6A launch, which flew on a Falcon Heavy rocket in April.

The Falcon 9 rocket lifting-off from Cape Canaveral carrying the second Starlink mission. Courtesy of SpaceX

Following the launch the now “experienced” first-stage completed a successful propulsive landing on a drone ship positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship used was the “Of Course I Still Love You”. SpaceX had intended to attempt to recover the payload fairings following this mission too however, the dedicated recovery ships were forced to return to port due to worsening conditions at sea.

Comment by David Todd: There is an increasing backlash against the SpaceX Starlink constellation over its light pollution aspect which may hinder astronomical observations.

About Seradata

Seradata produce the renowned Seradata database. Trusted by over 100 of the world’s leading Space organisations, Seradata is a fully queryable database used for market analysis, failure/risk assessment, spectrum analysis and space situational awareness (SSA).

For more information go to https://www.seradata.com/product/

Related Articles

Luna 25 lunar crash failure report: engine shutdown signal was never sent due to control system overload

The Russian space agency/industrial conglomerate Roscosmos has released its preliminary report into the crash of Luna 25 onto the surface Read more

IAC 2023 Baku: Axiom Space talks about its plans for a space station to follow the ISS

The first Plenary Session of the second day here at the IAC 2023, Baku, Azerbaijan, saw a discussion between three Read more

DISH Network fined for failure to remove Echostar 7 as potential source of space debris

Under its space debris-reduction protocol, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has fined the communications satellite operator DISH Network US$150,000 Read more

SpaceX launches its Starlink Group 6-19 using its Falcon 9

SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA at 0200 GMT on 30 September Read more

Eutelsat completes merger with OneWeb to create European GEO-LEO giant

French satellite operator Eutelsat Communications SA and UK government part-owned OneWeb have completed an all-share merger, to create Eutelsat Group, Read more

Iran launches Noor 3 (Nour 3) satellite using Qased rocket launch

A Qased rocket launch at 0558 GMT on 27 September from the Qased Shahroud Test Centre, Iran, carried the Noor Read more

Soyuz MS-23 undocks from ISS and returns to Earth

With the hatch closed at 0441 GMT on 27 September 2023, Soyuz MS-23 undocked from the Prichal module of the Read more

China launches second Yaogan 33 mission in a month

In a near repeat of a mission which took place earlier this month on 6 September 2023, China has launched Read more

OSIRIS REx returns asteroid sample to Earth and prepares for its next asteroid mission

The OSIRIS-REx mission to the asteroid Bennu has returned samples to Earth, fulfilling one of its main objectives seven years Read more

Categories

Archives

Tags

nasaspacexecoreviewsissesaArianespacevideochina25virgin galacticfalcon 9ULAFalcon 9v1.2FT Block 5RoscosmosevaDGAspacewalkaviation weekaressoyuzIGTInternational Space StationBeidouawardsspaceBlue OriginSatellite broadcastingRocket LabStarlinkrussiamoonCargo Return VehicleboeingOneWebAirbus DSmarsblogISROresearchorionspaceshiptwojaxaimpacthyperboladelaymarsEutelsatdemocratrocketobamahypertextgoogle lunar prizelunarlaunchVegabarack obamaconstellationSEStourismnorthfiguresthales alenia spacespaceflightnode 2fundedRaymond LygoIntelsat2009Lockheed MartinExpress MD-2Atlas Vromess2Elon Muskdassault aviationaviationLucy2008wk2sstlukradiotestmissilesuborbitaldocking portexplorationAriane 5 ECAVirgin OrbitinternetChina Manned Space EngineeringAriane 5SLSsts-1222010flightspace tourismNorthrop Grummancotsnewspapermissile defensegalileospaceportExpress AMU 1Long March 4CLong March 2D/2Electronbuildspace stationaltairinternational astronautical congresssoyuz 2-1ashuttleProton MEuropean Space AgencyLauncherOneCosmosIntelsat 23scaled compositeshanleybudgetrulesnew yorkAriane 6shenzhouspace shuttleatvVietnamcongressMojaveboldenLong March 2COrbital ATKnew shepardInmarsatGuiana Space Centeriaccneslunar landerksclawsSpace Systems/LoralUK Space AgencyLong March 4BILSUS Air ForceprotonTalulah RileyApollodarpaFalcon 9v1.2 Block 5Kuaizhou 1AVega CSkylonAstriumeupicturebaseusaastronautdragonlanderfiveeventTelesatSSLElectron KSNorth KoreaAprilSNCWednesdayinterviewSea Launchfalcon50thcustomerlinkLong Marchatlantissuccessor