A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took the scenic route as it launched 46 Starlink satellites into orbit on Friday (July 22).
Although it was a gray day at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the Falcon 9 rocket quickly rose above the clouds, where images from the launch tracking camera captured a stunning view of the rocket as jump over the moon
A few minutes later, the satellites were on their way to orbit aboard the rocket’s second stage, while the first stage gently touched SpaceX’s “Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship stationed in the Pacific Ocean , marking another successful launch for the company. .
Related: SpaceX’s Starlink Satellite Mega Constellation Launches in Photos
A still image from the tracking camera image of SpaceX’s Starlink launch on July 22, 2022 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (Image credit: SpaceX)
The launch was the fifth Starlink mission of July alone and the company’s 32nd launch of the year, officially surpassing its record of 31 launches in 2021.
It probably won’t be long before the company opts for another one: According to Spaceflight Now (opens in new tab), SpaceX is targeting another Starlink launch for Sunday (July 24), this time from Kennedy Florida Space Center. SpaceX has not yet confirmed the launch attempt.
Starlink is the company’s Internet megaconstellation, for which it has launched more than 2,800 satellites; the network is already in service, but is designed to include at least 12,000 satellites.
According to TimeAndDate.com (opens in a new tab), the moon rose Friday over San Luis Obispo, California, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of the launch site, at 1:19 a.m. local time and it was set at 3:36 pm. local time; the rocket was launched at 10:39 local time.
The moon is currently 22.5% illuminated as seen from Earth, according to the website, and is about a week past its full phase, waning to a new moon which will arrive on Thursday (July 28).
Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @spacedotcom yen Facebook.