A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 52 Starlink satellites from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 17, 2023. This marked the 22nd time this particular Falcon 9 rocket has been launched, tying SpaceX’s record for rocket reuse.
The launch, scheduled for Sunday night, will carry two spacecraft for the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM). The Falcon 9 is set to lift off at 10:02 p.m. EDT from Vandenberg Space Force Base, with SpaceX streaming the event live on its X account.
After liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage is expected to return to Earth and land on the SpaceX drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. This successful landing will mark the 22nd time this booster has been reused, matching SpaceX’s previous record set in June during a Starlink satellite launch.
The ASBM mission aims to expand broadband coverage in the Arctic region for the U.S. Space Force and Space Norway. The two satellites, built by Northrop Grumman, will operate in a highly elliptical orbit to provide coverage to the area. These satellites carry various payloads, including military equipment for the U.S. and Norwegian Armed Forces, a commercial payload for Viasat, and a radiation monitor for the European Commission.
In addition to this launch, SpaceX has had a busy weekend with a successful launch of 21 Starlink satellites from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday. A separate attempt to launch more Starlink satellites from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Sunday was aborted with only 46 seconds left in the countdown.
Overall, SpaceX continues to make strides in reusability and efficiency in spaceflight, setting records and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the industry. Stay tuned for more updates on rocket launches, space missions, and more exciting developments in the world of space exploration.
