SpaceX nears 5,000 satellite launches
August 23, 2023
An August 22nd launch by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket marked the 100th launch of Starlink satellites. The launch also broke many other records.
The Vandenberg Space Force Station launch completed SpaceX’s 218th landing of one of the Falcon 9 boosters and the 114th consecutive landing.
However, perhaps the most impressive achievement is that the launch of 21 Version 2 ‘mini’ craft means that SpaceX is just 17 satellites away from having launched 5,000 satellites into orbit.
The launch brings the total number of Starlink satellites launched to 4,983 of which 269 are the V2 ‘mini’ variant.
However, not all of those 4,983 have successfully made it to orbit. According to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell there are 4,640 are in orbit while another 392 are still ascending. Another 210 are drifting. McDowell says that 3,907 are “operational”, which in itself is a significant achievement.
Another launch is scheduled for this evening, (August 23) weather permitting.
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