SpaceX successfully launched one of its Falcon 9 rockets into space a ninth time record on Sunday, becoming the first in the company’s fleet to launch and land nine times. The hawk 9 the rocket was carrying a new payload of 60 Starlink satellites, which are part of the company’s efforts to provide satellite internet.
The success of the launch and landing of this first-stage reinforcement is remarkable given SpaceX’s goals when it designed the Falcon 9 rocket. The Falcon 9 was designed to be able to do this flies 10 times with little or no modification between missions. The company currently has two Falcon 9 booster rockets close to the desired 10 flights, for Space.com, and is closely monitoring the wear of each rocket each time it takes off.
The Falcon 9 rocket the company launched on Sunday had also supported the launch of the Crew Dragon Demo-1, the first unmanned test flight of the Dragon spacecraft; the mission of the constellation RADARSAT or the new Earth observation satellites of Canada; the SXM-7, that of SirusXM satellite failed which he intended support your digital radio service; and five more Starlink missions.
SpaceX has sent three lots of Starlink satellites in space over the past two weeks, adding 180 satellites to the more than 1,000 it already has up there. It has two more Starlink releases scheduled for March.
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However, company officials have recently said that 10 might not be the “magic number” and that Falcon 9 rockets could make more flights, SpaceNews reported. Once a booster reaches 10 flight milestones, SpaceX will analyze the booster and make an assessment of whether it can “move forward with it”.
How TechCrunch points at the outset, rocket reuse is especially important for Starlink missions as SpaceX begins to increase its satellite internet service. Starlink tea At the moment 10,000 customers, although SpaceX recently open preorders for service. For a $ 99 refundable deposit, customers receive a Starlink kit which includes a mountable dish antenna, wifi router and power supply. The whole kit costs $ 499 imthe service only costs $ 99 a month.
Needless to say, it is still unclear whether SpaceX will be able to launch enough satellites to cover the areas it needs to cover and provide a reliable internet service. The company is trying, though.