A hectic week kicked off for SpaceX with the successful launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Kennedy Space Center. This mission, named Starlink 6-38, marked the 74th launch of a Falcon rocket from Launch Complex 39A and the 167th overall. The launch took place on Sunday, January 28, at 8:10 p.m. EST.
Photo from Yahoo
SpaceX’s B1062 Booster Makes Milestone Landing After Starlink 6-38 Launch
Notably, the first stage booster for this mission, identified as B1062, had an impressive resume, having previously supported crewed launches, GPS satellites, and numerous Starlink missions. It marked its 18th flight and achieved a milestone by landing on the droneship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ for the 58th time. This successful landing brought the total number of Falcon 9 first-stage booster landings to 267.
Shortly after the Starlink 6-38 launch, SpaceX geared up for another Falcon 9 mission, this time from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The Starlink 7-12 mission launched 22 additional satellites into orbit.
Concurrently, preparations were underway for the launch of the Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft, named NG-20, to the International Space Station (ISS). Both NASA and Northrop Grumman were actively involved in these preparations.
READ ALSO: Delivering Space Weather Information By Aditya L1 Mission
SpaceX’s NG-20 Mission
NG-20’s mission to resupply cargo to the ISS aligns with SpaceX’s commitment to supporting space exploration and satellite deployment. Additionally, SpaceX is involved in the private astronaut mission Ax-3, led by Michael López-Alegría, which aims to return four individuals from the ISS to Earth in the coming days.
The NG-20 mission underscores SpaceX’s collaborative efforts with Northrop Grumman and Firefly Aerospace on the Antares 330 project. These endeavors exemplify SpaceX’s dedication to advancing space exploration, facilitating scientific research, and enabling private space missions.
READ ALSO: Private SpaceX Crew Launches For International Space Station Adventure!
