Update: This article has been updated to reflect the successful launch.
SpaceX launched a record 46 satellites on its second attempt on Friday (July 22).
Two-stage Hawk 9 A T-46 rocket fired a scrub in seconds on Thursday (July 21) and successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday.
Liftoff took place at 1:40 pm EDT (1740 GMT or 10:40 am local time at the launch site) amid heavy fog conditions on the West Coast.
The launch allowed SpaceX to outperform 31 record releases 2021, still counting, with a record 32nd release in 2022.
Related: Falcon 9: SpaceX’s workhorse rocket
Falcon 9’s first stage also completed its mission, landing the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean as planned 8.5 minutes after launch.
Ahead of this effort, SpaceX recently launched a batch of Starlings from Vandenberg on July 11. In that case, another collection 46 Starlink satellites went into space and successfully landed on the rocket droneship.
SpaceX has launched more Starlink modules from the US East Coast. Very recently Sunday (July 17) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida.
Starlink is more 2,800 individual Starlink satellites (opens in new tab) The company was launched into orbit as it sought to develop its satellite-internet service. Group 3-2 is SpaceX’s fourth Starlink launch in July alone.
SpaceX aims to quickly build the Constellation. There is regulatory approval to send 12,000 Starlink craft into orbit. The company has since asked the international regulator to approve 30,000 satellites.
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