SpaceX launches 114 small satellites on its first mission of 2023! Hello, Guy’s today SpaceX Authority launches 114 small satellites. Every One Knowing that SpaceX is the most popular satellite system in the World. SpaceX the first launch of the year lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday and carried 114 small satellites into polar orbit for operators from 23 countries, deploying various payloads for technology demos, Earth observation, and communications missions.
A 229-foot-tall (70-meter) Falcon 9 rocket lifted off, kicking off the mission at 9:56 a.m. EST (1456 GMT) with a thunderous launch from Pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch marks the first of 100 missions on SpaceX’s 2023 schedule, following a record 61 launches last year.
Launchpads on Florida’s Space Coast were busier than last year, with 57 rocket flights aimed at putting payloads into orbit. U.S. The Space Force is preparing for 87 launches in 2023 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center. Read our previous story for details on the 2023 launch schedule
For Tuesday’s mission, Falcon 9 took off southeast from Cape Canaveral, then headed south along Florida’s east coast to place the mission’s 114 payloads into polar orbit. The first stage fired its nine Merlin engines for 2 minutes and 17 seconds, then the Falcon separated from the upper stage to return to Florida.
The first stage pulsed cold gas nitrogen thrusters flipped around and flew tail-first, then ignited Marlin’s three engines to reverse course for a boost-back burn and return to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The booster extends the titanium grid fins as it cartwheels slowly to the edge of space, providing aerodynamic support to help propel the rocket back through the atmosphere. The rocket then fires its three engines for re-entry. After slowing to less than the speed of sound, the rocket ignited its center engine for a final braking maneuver just before a four-legged vertical touchdown at Landing Zone 1, less than 6 miles (10 km) from the launch pad.
Tuesday’s mission saw the reusable first stage — tail number B1060 — make its 15th launch and landing, tying the record for the most flown boosters in SpaceX’s inventory. It debuted on a mission to carry a GPS navigation satellite into space in June 2020 and recently flew a mission with two Intelsat TV broadcast satellites on October 8.
As the booster returned to Cape Canaveral on Tuesday, the Falcon 9’s second-stage engine burned out about six minutes after reaching an initial parking orbit. After coasting over Central America, the Pacific Ocean, and Antarctica, the upper stage briefly restarted its engines for about 55 minutes and two seconds on a mission to place satellite payloads into a near-circular orbit at an altitude of about 326 miles (525 kilometers). ), and an inclination of 97.5 degrees towards the equator.
Then the Falcon 9 rocket begins a carefully choreographed deployment sequence to reveal its payload limitations. The deployment sequence began at T + plus 58 minutes, with 82 separation events planned in 33 minutes.
SpaceX has confirmed the completion of 78 of the 82 separation events. “Teams continue to review the data, although it may take some time to provide customers with additional information about the status of their payloads,” the company tweeted Tuesday afternoon.
