Two Starlink Missions Fly In The Same Day

SpaceX completed its 100th launch of 2024 on October 15, delivering the Starlink 10-10 mission’s cargo of 23 Starlink satellites into orbit after launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

This was the 11th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster, tail number B1080. Previous missions included three to the International Space Station (ISS), one with astronauts and two Cargo Dragon flights. About 8 minutes after liftoff, booster B1080 touched down on the ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ droneship, representing the 81st booster landing on that droneship and the 353rd booster landing for SpaceX.

The occasion of the 100th launch of the year was accompanied by a second SpaceX launch about two hours later. The second was also a Starlink mission, number 9-7 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It delivered 20 satellites to orbit, 13 of which have Direct to Cell capabilities.

SpaceX launched 96 times in 2023, which was 43% of all launches around the globe, according to NASA data. Of those, 91 were Falcon 9 and 5 were Falcon Heavy launches.

Two days before these two launches, SpaceX accomplished something no one had ever seen before, nor thought possible: Following the launch of Starship’s fifth test flight by the Falcon Super Heavy, successful ascent, stage separation, and coast back to Earth, the Super Heavy booster performed its landing burn and was CAUGHT by the launch and catch tower!

It was an amazing, eventful, and successful few days for SpaceX and all the engineers and technicians who made it possible.

FMI:  www.spacex.com/