SpaceX F9 - Starlink Group 4-25 - LC-39A

[Grendal]

Launch Date: July 24
Launch Window: 9:38am EDT (06:38am PDT, 13:38 UTC)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS - ASOG
Booster: B1062.8
Fairings: Reused
Mass: 53 satellites - 15.6 tonnes
Orbit: LEO
Yearly Launch Number: 33rd

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 53rd group of satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 4-25. This batch of satellites is headed to the 4th shell of the first generation constellation of Starlink which is comprised of about 72 orbital planes located at 540km in altitude and 53.2º of orbital inclination.

 

[Grendal]

 

[Cosmacelf]

I tell people they are sending up about 50 Starlink satellites a week, but I guess I'm undercounting!

 

[Grendal]

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1551202594369839106

 

[Grendal]

And another success. Nice videos of the rocket passing the sound barrier and the wicked aero effects. Also a great shot of the landing from ASOG and the rocket.

 

[ecarfan]

Always good to see continuous video from the booster during landing!

I noticed that at T+8:26 just before the landing burn started the grid fins moved dramatically and sharply re-oriented the stage to a degree that I don’t normally see that close to landing. It was like an “Oops I need to course correct!”

And speaking of “wicked aero effects”, I liked this image of airflow through one of the grid fins.

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1551204106471030784

https://twitter.com/x/status/1551205111980036097

https://twitter.com/x/status/1551205500796239872