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<\/p>\nContinuing 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. The launch occurred at 1:13 PM EST (18:13 UTC) on Thursday, February 3, from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.<\/p>\n
In addition to reusing a Falcon 9 first stage, both fairing halves were reused from previous missions. One half flew on its sixth mission, setting a new record for SpaceX.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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. 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. This window was not needed, as the launch went on time on Thursday.<\/p>\n
This launch marks the sixth mission of the year for SpaceX, having already launched two Starlink missions, Transporter-3, CSG-2, and NROL-87.<\/p>\n
As 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 maneuver is the reason why SpaceX launched fewer satellites on this mission, compared to other launches from Florida, which launched 53 Starlink satellites.<\/p>\n
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A Shortfall of Gravitas arrives at Port Canaveral for the first time in July 2021. (Credit: Julia Bergeron for NSF\/L2)<\/p>\n
Stationed 640 kilometers downrange from LC-39A is SpaceX\u2019s newest ASDS (Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship), ASOG (A Shortfall of Gravitas). Alongside ASOG was SpaceX\u2019s multipurpose vessel named Doug. Named after one of the astronauts who flew on SpaceX\u2019s Demonstration mission-2, Doug provides ASDS support for this mission and recovers fairings as they splash down on the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n
The Falcon 9 booster supporting this mission is B1061, which has launched to space six times. Its debut launch was SpaceX and NASA\u2019s first operational commercial crew mission to the International Space Station: Crew-1. 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 \u2014 named IXPE \u2014 for NASA.<\/p>\n
Aerospace & Defense (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n The record-breaking fairing half making its sixth flight on the Group 4-7 mission supported five previous Starlink missions. The other half, also being reused, previously flew on the Transporter-1 mission as well as two Starlink missions.<\/p>\n Starlink Constellation<\/b><\/p>\n Starlink is SpaceX\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n One of SpaceX\u2019s two most capital-intensive projects, it has been under development for quite a while, with the first regulatory filings dating back to 2014.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n