SpaceX adds 22 Starlinks
August 7, 2023
By Chris Forrester
SpaceX launched a smaller number of its Starlink satellites into orbit on August 6th, with each satellite being the larger and more powerful Version 1.5 craft.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket placed 22 of these Version 1.5 ‘mini’ Starlinks into their transfer orbits.
The launch takes the overall number of Starlinks launched to 4,903, of which more than 4,500 are now considered to be ‘working’ according to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell running totals.
The launch took place from Florida at 10.41 pm local time. It was the fourth time that the Falcon 9 booster had flown and after deploying its cargo it safely landed on the ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ barge downrange.
SpaceX has plans to loft many more Starlink craft to low Earth orbit over the coming weeks and months. The company has FCC approval to deploy 12,000 satellites and has applied for permission to launch 30,000 additional satellites.