SpaceX Launches Record-Setting Mission, Sends 54 Starlink Satellites Into Orbit

Dillon BurroughsDecember 18, 2022

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket conducted its record-setting 15th mission on Saturday, further extending the company’s record for reusable rocket missions.

The launch of Falcon 9 included 54 Starlink internet satellites that lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Saturday afternoon.

Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/nOImtbIbpr

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 17, 2022

The rocket’s booster returned to Earth about nine minutes after liftoff, landing aboard a SpaceX droneship off the coast of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean.

“Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, completing the 15th launch and landing of this booster!” SpaceX tweeted.

Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, completing the 15th launch and landing of this booster! pic.twitter.com/0AXCXTSPRb

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 17, 2022

Over four dozen Starlink satellites were released into orbit about 15 minutes after launch. SpaceX leader Elon Musk stated that the successful mission marked three perfect orbital launches in 36 hours.

Starlink has more than 3,500 satellites in orbit to date, with plans to add up to 30,000 total. The launch was also part of a busy period that experienced three SpaceX launches in less than three days.

“Congrats to SpaceX Team on 3 perfect orbital launches within 36 hours!!!” Musk tweeted.

Congrats to SpaceX Team on 3 perfect orbital launches within 36 hours!!!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 17, 2022

On Friday, Falcon 9 launched NASA’s SWOT water-watching satellite from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission to low-Earth orbit is “an internationally developed mission to conduct the first global survey of Earth’s surface water,” according to the mission description from SpaceX.

“It aims to provide a new understanding of the ocean’s role in climate change and improve the data humanity relies upon for fresh water management,” it added.

The SWOT satellite will undergo calibration and testing with plans to start collecting data in about six months in its mission to measure the world’s bodies of water.

“Warming seas, extreme weather, more severe wildfires – these are only some of the consequences humanity is facing due to climate change,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The climate crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, and SWOT is the realization of a long-standing international partnership that will ultimately better equip communities so that they can face these challenges.”

A Friday mission from Cape Canaveral also sent two European telecom satellites into orbit.

Watch Falcon 9 launch the @SES_Satellites O3b mPOWER mission to orbit → https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK https://t.co/SqeA1SSTsu

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 16, 2022

The continued efforts by Starlink seek to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet in remote and rural locations worldwide. The company made global headlines earlier this year when Musk provided Starlink services to Ukraine after the nation was invaded by Russia.

Two days after the Kremlin’s invasion began, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Digital Mykhailo Fedorov called on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to provide Starlink internet service to Ukraine.

“@elonmusk, while you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand,” Fedorov tweeted.

Hours later, Musk personally responded to the request.

“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route,” Musk wrote.

Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022

As The Daily Wire previously reported, Musk also made Starlink services available in Iran after protests led to its government blocking the internet in September.