{"id":12681,"date":"2020-01-29T22:05:16","date_gmt":"2020-01-29T14:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/spacex-boosts-60-more-starlink-satellites-into-orbit-after-weather-delays\/"},"modified":"2020-01-29T22:05:16","modified_gmt":"2020-01-29T14:05:16","slug":"spacex-boosts-60-more-starlink-satellites-into-orbit-after-weather-delays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/spacex-boosts-60-more-starlink-satellites-into-orbit-after-weather-delays\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX boosts 60 more Starlink satellites into orbit after weather delays"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 9:06:49 a.m. EST (1406:49 GMT) Wednesday with 60 Starlink Internet satellites. Credit: Stephen Clark \/ Spaceflight Now<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After waiting more than a week for good weather, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday from Cape Canaveral with 60 more satellites for the company\u2019s Starlink Internet network, continuing to build out a fleet of fleet of orbiting broadband relay stations that could eventually number in the thousands.<\/p>\n

The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) Falcon 9 rocket fired up at 9:06:49 a.m. EST (1406:49 GMT) Wednesday and climbed away from from Cape Canaveral\u2019s Complex 40 launch pad. An incandescent flame from the rocket\u2019s nine Merlin 1D main engines \u2014 collectively generating 1.7 million pounds of thrust \u2014 trailed more than 20 stories behind the launcher.<\/p>\n

A roar from the Falcon 9\u2019s engines reached spectators a few seconds later as the rocket arced toward the northeast into clear skies over Florida\u2019s Space Coast.<\/p>\n

The liftoff Wednesday came after a series of weather delays since last week. After performing a standard pre-launch test-firing of the rocket, SpaceX pushed back the launch from Jan. 21 to Jan. 24, then to Monday, Jan. 27, to wait for improved weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean, where SpaceX stationed ships to retrieve the first stage and payload fairing from the Falcon 9 rocket.<\/p>\n

SpaceX scrubbed a launch attempt Monday due to strong upper level winds, then bypassed a launch opportunity Tuesday, again wait for better weather in the downrange recovery area.<\/p>\n

Weather conditions at Cape Canaveral appeared ideal for a launch Wednesday, and SpaceX\u2019s 80th Falcon 9 flight put on a spectacular show.<\/p>\n

Two-and-a-half minutes after liftoff, the rocket\u2019s first stage shut down its engines and dropped away from the Falcon 9\u2019s second stage. Seconds later, the upper stage\u2019s single Merlin engine \u2014 modified with an enlarged nozzle for better performance in space \u2014 ignited to accelerate the 60 Starlink satellites into orbit.<\/p>\n

The Falcon 9 jettisoned its clamshell-like payload fairing nearly three-and-a-half minutes into the mission.<\/p>\n

Flying tail first, the rocket\u2019s first stage booster reignited three of its nine engines to guide it toward SpaceX\u2019s drone ship \u201cOf Course I Still Love You\u201d positioned around 400 miles (630 kilometers) northeast of Cape Canaveral. A final landing burn using the center engine slowed the booster for a controlled vertical touchdown on the football field-sized barge, marking the 49th time SpaceX has recovered one of its rockets intact.<\/p>\n