At 21:50 on September 20, 2024 (06:50 Pacific Daylight Time on the 20th of United States), at the SLC-4E station of Vandenberg Space Force Base on the Pacific coast of the United States, the "Falcon IX" launch vehicle carried out 9 groups of 17 batches (G9-17) of 20 small second-generation "Starlink" satellites to launch satellites into initial orbit.
The SpaceX Starlink G 9-17 mission is the 63rd batch launch of the Starlink constellation in 2024, the 193rd batch launch of the constellation and the 106th batch launch of the second-generation Starlink satellite (Starlink v2.0 mini). So far, the total number of "Starlink" satellites has reached 7,057, of which 1,397 will be launched in 2024. Among the 20 satellites in this mission, 13 are mobile phone direct connection satellites.
The rocket is equipped with a multiplexed first-stage module B1075.13, which uses down-of-the-line recovery (ASDS), and after 8 minutes and 16 seconds, the first stage lands vertically on the OCISLY automatic recovery ship moored in the Pacific Ocean. On the morning of August 17, Beijing time, B1075.12 carried out the Transporter-11 mission, 34 days after the mission.
This launch mission is the 91st launch of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle in 2024, the 32nd launch of Vandenberg Space Force Base, the 107th launch of the United States and the 174th orbital space launch in the world.
Author: Mulan Xingzhou