SpaceX continued its rapid deployment of Starlink satellites, launching its third batch in just over four days. The Falcon 9 rocket took off from Cape Canaveral at 2:47 a.m. EST (0747 UTC) on Wednesday for the Starlink 6-29 mission.
Originally scheduled for 11:01 p.m. EST (0401 UTC) the night before, the launch experienced two delays before proceeding. This marks the third consecutive mission involving the deployment of Starlink satellites, with 23 satellites launched just after midnight on the preceding Saturday from Cape Canaveral, followed by 22 Starlinks from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Monday morning. The latest launch on Wednesday added another 23 satellites to the growing Starlink constellation.
The Falcon 9 rocket was raised into position at Space Launch Complex 40, a process that occurred unusually late, shortly before 10 p.m. EST (0300 UTC). Remarkably, the launch facility’s ninth fastest turnaround attempt was notable, as the previous mission from the same pad had taken place just four days prior, showcasing SpaceX’s accelerated launch cadence. its rapid deployment
With ignition of its nine Merlin 1D engines, the Falcon 9 set off on a south-easterly trajectory, targeting an orbit inclined 43 degrees to the Equator. After burning its nine Merlin 1D engines for nearly two and a half minutes, the first stage separated from the second stage and continued downrange to land on the drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ in the Atlantic Ocean, about 424 miles (682 km) from the launch site.
Meanwhile, high above, the single vacuum Merlin engine of the second stage continued to fire for about six-minutes to reach a parking orbit. After coasting for about 45 minutes, the second-stage engine re-ignited for a two-second burn to refine the orbit. Deployment of the 23 V2 Mini Starlink satellites was confirmed by SpaceX in a social media post.