At 0758 GMT on 2 February 2023 a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 successfully launched 53 Starlink Gen2 satellites (Group 5-3) from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA.Their intended eventual operational orbit once they have raised themselves from their initial deployment orbit is a circular orbit at an altitude of 530 km, inclined 43 degrees to the equator.
The reusable first stage B1069 landed successfully on the drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 8 minutes 40 after launch. This was 5th successful flight of the first stage booster. The fairing halves will be retrieved later for reuse.
David Todd contributed to this report.
Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket successfully launches Starlink Group 5-3. Courtesy: SpaceX
