When SpaceX launched its sixtieth Falcon 9 rocket mission of 2022 earlier than dawn on Wednesday (Dec. 28), you’ll be able to guess photographers have been prepared for the sight.
The Falcon 9 rocket produced a vibrant present when it launched 54 new Gen2 Starlink satellites into the predawn sky at 4:34 a.m. EST (0934 GMT) from the Cape Canaveral Area Power Station in Florida. The brand new Starlink satellites are the primary upgraded variations of the SpaceX constellation fleet.
This was the eleventh flight for the Falcon 9 first stage that flew on Wednesday. Based on SpaceX, the booster has launched a number of satellites, 5 earlier Starlink missions and has flown two non-public astronaut crews to space. Try some superb images of the launch by launch photographers and SpaceX itself.
The sixtieth #SpaceX Falcon launch of the yr, this one carrying upgraded #Starlink satellites to orbit, seen over the Indian River Lagoon (and my Starlink dish). pic.twitter.com/90JHs39EQkDecember 28, 2022
Fisheye Streak! #SpaceX Falcon9 B1062.11 streak to orbit 434AM ET Dec28 carrying 54 #Starlink web satellites on 5-1 mission from CCSFS pad 40.sixtieth SpaceX launch 2022!Soared SE on 1st Starlink Gen2 community flight to 43deg inclination-in this 4min lengthy period fisheye streak pic.twitter.com/x0uRcK4ojBDecember 28, 2022
Falcon 9 launches 54 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit; completes SpaceX’s sixtieth mission of 2022! pic.twitter.com/MIstToPIyLDecember 28, 2022
On Dec. 1, the U.S. Federal Communications Fee (FCC) approved SpaceX to deploy 7,500 of those Starlink 2.0 satellites in low Earth orbit.
“Our motion will enable SpaceX to start deployment of Gen2 Starlink, which can deliver next-generation satellite broadband to Individuals nationwide, together with these residing and dealing in areas historically unserved or underserved by terrestrial programs,” FCC officers wrote within the choice order, out there here (opens in new tab). “Our motion additionally will allow worldwide satellite broadband service, serving to to shut the digital divide on a worldwide scale.”
Many astrononomers have criticized (opens in new tab) the rising megaconstellation. They’ve cited considerations that these hundreds of spacecraft will intervene with optical and radio observations of the evening sky, in addition to the rise space particles.
Earlier than Dec. 1, the FCC had already granted SpaceX permission to deploy 12,000 first-generation Starlink satellites.
Comply with Doris Elin Urrutia on Twitter @salazar_elin. Comply with us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or on Facebook.