UPDATE Jan. 18, 9:08 PM EST (0212 UTC): SpaceX confirms deployment of Starlink satellites.
SpaceX continued expanding its Starlink internet network with the launch of 29 new satellites on Sunday.
Liftoff from Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida occurred at 6:31:40 p.m. EST (2331:40 UTC).
The cold front passing through the Florida peninsula presented some weather challenges, especially with the windows open. Forecasters with the Cape Canaveral-based 45th Weather Squadron predicted a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions when the window opened Saturday.
The main concern Sunday was over violations of launch weather regulations related to cumulus clouds, dense clouds and liftoff winds. The forecast called for a high of 57 °F (14 °C), winds from the north at 12–28 mph (19–45 km/h), and scattered clouds at 1,500 feet (450 m) and broken clouds at 20,000 feet (6,000 m).
The mission was designated Starlink 6-100, although it is the 99th Group 6 launch overall and the 347th dedicated launch for SpaceX’s Internet of Space service.
After sending the satellites on their way, the Falcon 9 first stage booster B1080 landed on the drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ about 8 minutes and 20 seconds after liftoff. This was the 24th flight of this particular booster, which enters the SpaceX fleet with the launch of the Axiom-2 commercial mission to the International Space Station in May 2023.
The 29 Starlink V2 mini-satellites were launched into a 164×157-mile (264×253 km) orbit inclined 43 degrees to the equator a little more than an hour after liftoff.
