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UPDATE 3: SpaceX ties rocket reuse record of 19 and launches 22 V2 Mini Starlink smallsats

UPDATE 3: On Thursday, February 22 at 8:11 p.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched 22 V2 Mini Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

This was the 19th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, Korea 425, and now nine Starlink missions.

The first stage booster’s, tail number 1061, tied the record of 19 successful recoveries. The previous record set by booster 1058 successfully landed on December 26, 2023 and then ironically was lost during recovery operations.

SpaceX says it has more than two million subscribers to its Starlink internet service in more than 60 countries. Since 2019 it has launched 5,872 Starlinks according to statistics compiled after this launch by Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, who maintains a space flight database. Of those satellites 5,480 remain in orbit and 5,442 appear to be operational.

Update 2: SpaceX’s Thursday Starlink launch to tie rocket reuse record of 19

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites launches from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (Image credit: SpaceX (via X)

UPDATE 2: SpaceX is scheduled to launch 22 Starlink broadband satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California tonight during a 3.5-hour window that opens at 11:11 p.m. EST (8:11 p.m. local California time; 0411 GMT on Feb. 23). Tonight’s launch will tie its rocket-reuse record of 19.

It will be the 19th mission for this Falcon 9’s first stage, according to a SpaceX mission description, tying a mark the company set on a Starlink launch this past December.

This is the 19th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, Korea 425, and eight Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

Tonight’s launch will be the 17th of 2024 already for SpaceX. Flight 16 lofted an Indonesian telecom satellite on Tuesday (Feb. 20), on a milestone mission for SpaceX — the 300th successful Falcon 9 launch overall.

SpaceX plans Thursday Starlink smallsats launch

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SpaceX is targeting Thursday, February 22 for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 8:11 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 11:44 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Friday, February 23 starting at 7:50 p.m. PT.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.

This is the 19th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, Korea 425, and eight Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.