SpaceX F9 - Starlink 4-16 - SLC-40

[Grendal]

Launch Date: April 29
Launch Window: 5:33 pm EDT (2:33 pm PDT, 21:33 UTC)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS - JRTI
Booster: B1062.6
Fairings: Reused
Mass: 53 satellites - 15.6 tonnes
Orbit: LEO

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 43nd group of satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 4-16.

If successful, this will be SpaceX's 17th launch this year and:

• This will be the fastest turnaround time for a booster at 20 days 6 hours and 16 minutes (previous record was 27 days 4 hours and 4 minutes for B1060 between its 4th and 5th flight).
• This will be SpaceX's 85th launch from SLC-40.
• This will be the shortest time between launches from SLC-40 at 8 days 6 hours and 19 minutes
• This will be Falcon 9's 150th orbital flight.
• This will be the 6th launch of the month, breaking SpaceX's record for most launches in a single calendar month.
• Fastest turnaround for an ASDS (JRTI). B1060.12 was unloaded and the ASDS left almost immediately for this booster recovery.

 

[Electroman]

Where does one find the number of operational Starlinks out there now, and the ones that are on the path to be operationalized?

 

[Grendal]

Where does one find the number of operational Starlinks out there now, and the ones that are on the path to be operationalized?

This website is collating all the data.

Jonathan's Space Report | Space Statistics

Jonathan McDowell's new homepage

planet4589.org

 

[Grendal]

Great weather for this one too.

 

[808?]

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

Fantastic views of the landing

 

[Grendal]

All kinds of records broken on this one. Success - as usual.

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1520164928220504065

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1520167923158900736

 

[ecarfan]

All kinds of records broken on this one. Success - as usual.

I think I read that this booster was turned around in a record three weeks, is that right?

Perfect booster landing.

 

[MyJoule]

I thought I heard Jesse say it was turned in 9 days, but it had been 21 days since the last launch, maybe she meant it was processed in 9 days, but still amazing that they turned it around so fast. And I agree - what spectacular views of the landing. Bullseye.