SpaceX Launches 2 Falcon 9 Rockets To Orbit In A Day

Starlink launch with Falcon 9. (photo: X @SpaceX)

JAKARTA SpaceX, a commercial space company, successfully launched two Falcon 9 rockets in two different places. This launch was carried out on the same day, namely on Monday, January 29.

With a gap of hours, the first rocket launched at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) belonging to the United States Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), while the second rocket was launched from Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Space Force Base, California.

These two rockets carry Starlink as payloads, but the number is different. Falcon 9 which took off at 06.15 WIB carried 23 satellites, while Falcon 9 which launched at 12.57 WIB carried 22 payloads.

If calculated as a whole, SpaceX successfully flies 45 satellites a day. This number is indeed fairly unusual, but SpaceX does not explain the reasons behind the two launches within one day.

The company only provided an update on their launch on the SLC-4E. As usual, the first phase of Falcon 9 returns to Earth about 8.5 minutes after takeoff. This booster landed on the SpaceX drone ship.

After its separate stages, the upper stage of Falcon 9 continues to advance to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to release dozens of Starlinks into the constellation SpaceX created. The launch in California is SpaceX's ninth launch this year.

For 2024, SpaceX is targeting 144 orbital mission launches. This challenge is actually quite difficult because SpaceX failed to reach their target last year. However, with a tight launch schedule, SpaceX may be able to get the expected amount.