SpaceX Resumes Falcon 9 Flights with California Starlink Satellite Launch
SpaceX successfully launched another batch of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit on February 7, just five days after a previous launch was halted due to an anomaly. The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying 25 Starlink satellites, lifted off at 3:58 p.m. EDT from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. About an hour later, SpaceX confirmed the satellites had been deployed as planned.
This launch marked the 13th flight of the rocket's first stage, Booster 1088, which touched down on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Pacific Ocean. The rocket's upper stage also performed as expected, despite an off-nominal condition on February 2 during the deployment of the previous batch of Starlink satellites.
SpaceX submitted a report to the FAA, detailing the likely cause and corrective actions taken. The FAA cleared the company to resume launches, and the Starlink megaconstellation now boasts over 9,600 active satellites. This launch was SpaceX's 15th of the year.
The article concludes with a brief biography of Robert Pearlman, a space historian and journalist, highlighting his contributions to space exploration journalism and his recognition in the field.
