At 17:22 Beijing time on July 28, 2024 (02:22 Pacific Daylight Time on the 28th), at the SLC-4E station of the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, 9 groups of 4 batches (G9-4) of 21 small second-generation "Starlink" satellites were launched by the "Falcon 9" carrier rocket, and the satellites were sent into the scheduled orbit.
The Starlink G10-4 mission is the 52nd batch launch of the Starlink low-orbit communication satellite constellation in 2024, and the 182nd batch launch in total and the 95th batch launch of the second-generation Starlink satellite (Starlink v2.0 mini). So far, the total number of "Starlink" satellites has reached 6,820, of which 1,160 will be launched in 2024.
The Falcon 9 rocket used the first-stage module B1071.17 of the 17th flight, using down-the-course recovery (ASDS), and landed on the OCISLY automatic recovery ship located in the Pacific Ocean south of California 8 minutes and 14 seconds after ignition, which is the 332nd recovery landing (including return recovery) of the first-stage module of the SpaceX "Falcon 9" and "Falcon Heavy" rocket cores. On the afternoon of May 22, Beijing time, the "Falcon" first-level module B1071.16 successfully carried out the NROL-146 mission, 71 days after the mission.
The launch is the 72nd launch of the Falcon IX launch vehicle in orbit in 2024, the 25th launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, the 85th launch from United States and the 136th launch in the world. So far, since the successful resumption of the Starlink G10-4 mission on the afternoon of July 27, Beijing time, the "Falcon 9" has won three consecutive victories. Next, at 12:19 Beijing time on August 2, the "Falcon 9" will carry out the Starlink G10-6 launch mission at the LC-39A station at the Kennedy Space Center.
Author: Mulan Xingzhou