A Falcon 9 rocket during a Starlink mission. Photo: SpaceX
Elon Musk’s private space company broke its own record for most launches in a single calendar year, and 2022 is far from over. The company completed its 32nd successful launch of the year, surpassing its 31 successful launches in 2021.
Like it or not, the abundance of SpaceX launches into space is impressive. On Friday, July 22, the company successfully launched 46 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit using its reusable Falcon 9 rocket, which lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California This marks SpaceX’s 32nd successful launch in 2022, surpassing its previous record of 31 successful launches in 2021, and there are still five months left in 2022. It’s a record for SpaceX, and also for any launch provider.
Friday’s launch was originally scheduled for Thursday, but was scrubbed because the Falcon 9 computer detected an anomalous reading from a Merlin engine just 46 seconds before launch. After investigating, SpaceX proceeded with the launch the next day.
SpaceX’s Starlink constellation aims to bring high-speed broadband internet to the world with a network of 42,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. SpaceX said on Twitter that Friday’s launch expanded Starlink service to 36 countries, which now include Luxembourg, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy. The company also conducted a launch on Sunday that sent 53 additional Starlink satellites into orbit, adding another successful launch to SpaceX’s remarkable run in 2022. The constellation currently consists of approximately 2,660 functional satellites .
Founded in 2002, the company is a force to be reckoned with in the commercial space industry. Aside from the launch record, SpaceX is expecting another milestone launch this year: the first orbital test of the company’s gigantic Starship rocket, which is currently undergoing testing in Boca Chica, Texas.
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While Starlink is a promising foray into equitable Internet access, it has not been without its flaws, with astronomers concerned about the risk Starlink poses to views of space. Because satellites reflect sunlight, they create streaks in astronomical data collected by ground-based observatories, and that noise could get worse with Musk’s recent announcement of bigger, more powerful satellites.
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