This is the company’s second batch of V2 “mini” satellites. The first batch launched in February and after a month and a half of troubleshooting problems, SpaceX seems ready to launch more.
Today’s launch was supported by Falcon 9 first stage B1073, which completed its eighth mission after being recovered by SpaceX’s drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas,” staged approximately 400 miles (640 kilometers) downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. The company also plans to recover the rocket’s twin fairings to use on another mission.
Overall, this was the 60th global orbital launch of 2023 and the 25th for SpaceX, which aims to fly as many as 100 Falcon 9 rockets in this calendar year.
