SpaceX, unlike any other company in the industry, uses RP-1 which is cooled to -7 degrees Celsius and the LOX is cooled to -205 degrees Celsius. At T-35 minutes, SpaceX began loading sub-cooled RP-1 onto both the first stage and the second stages as well as super-chilled LOX (Liquid Oxygen) onto the first stage. SpaceX is actively scheduling and launching to fill up the fourth shell of the mega-constellation, which when complete, will increase the capacity and reduce the latency for customers located between 52 degrees North and 52 degrees South latitude.Īt T-38 minutes, the Launch Director gave a GO for propellant loading. This mission, named Starlink 4-7, launched satellites to the fourth shell. The constellation consists of five groups of satellites, or “shells,” which will operate at different altitudes and orbital planes. Over the years, the plan underwent various changes, but in February 2018, SpaceX’s Tintin A and B satellites, which were experimental precursors to the operational Starlink satellites, were launched as secondary payloads from then Vandenberg Air Force Base. One of SpaceX’s two most capital-intensive projects, it has been under development for quite a while, with the first regulatory filings dating back to 2014. Starlink is SpaceX’s Internet Constellation in low Earth orbit that aims to provide satellite internet access coverage to most of Earth, primarily serving areas devoid of a fiber connection. The other half, also being reused, previously flew on the Transporter-1 mission as well as two Starlink missions. The record-breaking fairing half making its sixth flight on the Group 4-7 mission supported five previous Starlink missions. It went on to support the Crew-2 mission, the CRS-23 resupply mission to the ISS, the launch of a radio satellite for SiriusXM, and an X-ray space observatory - named IXPE - for NASA. Its debut launch was SpaceX and NASA’s first operational commercial crew mission to the International Space Station: Crew-1. ![]() The Falcon 9 booster supporting this mission is B1061, which has launched to space six times. Named after one of the astronauts who flew on SpaceX’s Demonstration mission-2, Doug provides ASDS support for this mission and recovers fairings as they splash down on the Atlantic Ocean. Alongside ASOG was SpaceX’s multipurpose vessel named Doug. Stationed 640 kilometers downrange from LC-39A is SpaceX’s newest ASDS (Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship), ASOG (A Shortfall of Gravitas). This maneuver is the reason why SpaceX launched fewer satellites on this mission, compared to other launches from Florida, which launched 53 Starlink satellites.Ī Shortfall of Gravitas arrives at Port Canaveral for the first time in July 2021. This launch marks the sixth mission of the year for SpaceX, having already launched two Starlink missions, Transporter-3, CSG-2, and NROL-87.Īs the Falcon 9 lifted off, it headed towards the southeast corridor from Cape Canaveral, hugging the coast of the Bahamas as it performed a dogleg maneuver to avoid flying over populated areas. This window was not needed, as the launch went on time on Thursday. If the launch was scrubbed for any reason, a backup launch opportunity existed on Friday, February 4, with a 70% chance of acceptable weather forecasted. The 45th Weather Squadron at Patrick Space Force Base forecasted an 80% chance of favorable weather for launch with a moderate risk of violating weather criteria in the booster recovery area. One half flew on its sixth mission, setting a new record for SpaceX. In addition to reusing a Falcon 9 first stage, both fairing halves were reused from previous missions. The launch occurred at 1:13 PM EST (18:13 UTC) on Thursday, February 3, from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Continuing with their high launch cadence, SpaceX has successfully launched another Falcon 9, this time carrying 49 Starlink satellites to a 339-kilometer orbit, with a 53.22-degree inclination.
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