SpaceX continues to rewrite the record books, this time achieving its SpaceX 62nd Starlink Mission of the year on September 3, 2023. Taking off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:47 p.m. EDT, a Falcon 9 rocket successfully carried 21 Starlink satellites into orbit. This new high-water mark surpasses the previous yearly record set in 2022.
Record-Breaking Year for SpaceX 🚀
Elon Musk, the CEO and founder of SpaceX, confirmed that this was “SpaceX’s 62nd orbital mission of 2023, setting a new record for most flights in a year.” The Falcon 9’s first stage also made a triumphant return, landing on the drone ship ‘Just Read the Instructions’ about 8.5 minutes after liftoff, as was planned.
Starlink’s Expanding Network 🛰️
“The Falcon 9’s upper stage, meanwhile, kept on flying. It’s scheduled to deploy the 21 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) about 65 minutes after liftoff,” said the SpaceX mission description. This further expands the growing Starlink network, which aims to provide global internet access.
A Big Day for SpaceX
Not just content with breaking records, SpaceX is also “bringing home the four astronauts of its Crew-6 mission, who had been at the International Space Station (ISS) since March.” The Crew Dragon capsule, named Endeavour, will splash down in the ocean off the Florida coast, a fitting end to a monumental day for SpaceX.
What a year…
What an astonishing year it has been for SpaceX! With its 62nd Starlink Mission, the company has not only set a new record but also taken another step toward global internet accessibility through Starlink. As we marvel at today’s achievements, one can only wonder what other records SpaceX will break in the near future. Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
