SpaceX launched 51 Starlink internet communication satellites into low Earth orbit on its Starlink Group 2-9 mission. Lifting off on May 10, 2023, at 13:09 PDT (20:09 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, this mission marked 2023\u2019s 68th orbital launch attempt and SpaceX\u2019s 31st (30th orbital) launch of the year, making up just under 45% of all launch attempts thus far this year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
To help reach SpaceX\u2019s ambitious goal of launching 100 times in 2023, this launch marked SLC-4E\u2019s third-quickest turnaround time at 12.3 days. While this is substantially longer than Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40)\u2019s fastest turnaround (just 5.15 days) and Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A)\u2019s (at 8.96 days), it is clear that cadence is being increased from the west coast to support SpaceX\u2019s busy launch cadence.<\/p>\n
The reason why SLC-4E is slower to turn around launches than SpaceX\u2019s other two operational pads is due to its use of SpaceX\u2019s old transporter erector (T\/E) design. At T-4 minutes, the T\/E falls 13 degrees away from the rocket and does not move further from this position \u2014 remaining stationary during liftoff.<\/p>\n
This is drastically different from the \u201cthrowback\u201d T\/E style used at SLC-40 and LC-39A, which moves just under two degrees away from the vehicle at roughly T-4 minutes, then falls the remaining distance from the vehicle (~45 degrees) at liftoff. This allows for the T\/E to be further out of the vehicle\u2019s exhaust, resulting in less refurbishment needed between flights.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n