SpaceX Hits 7,000-Starlink Milestone with Successful Falcon 9 Launch of 21 Satellites

SpaceX achieved a significant milestone on September 5, launching 21 additional Starlink satellites, surpassing 7,000 in orbit. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, marking the 15th flight for this specific booster, which safely returned to Earth post-launch.

SpaceX Reaches 7,000-Satellite Milestone with Latest Starlink Launch, Adding Direct-to-Cell Capability

SpaceX achieved a new milestone with its Starlink high-speed internet program during the Falcon 9 launch on September 5, per Teslarati.

One day after unfavorable weather conditions delayed departure, SpaceX launched 21 additional Starlink satellites from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 11:33 a.m. EDT. Space Launch Complex 40 served as the launch site for the Falcon 9 first stage.

The Starlink program has officially reached the 7,000-satellite milestone with the addition of 21 satellites. Following the most recent successful launch, there are now 7,001 satellites in low Earth orbit, up from 6,980.

Thirteen direct-to-cell satellites offering direct internet access to smartphones were also included in the most recent shipment. SpaceX verified this information in its post-launch press release on September 5 in the afternoon.

Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist who has monitored the number of Starlinks in the sky with each launch, has verified the 7,000-satellite threshold. Space.com was the first to disclose the figure.

The Falcon 9, utilized in the launch, returned to Earth and landed on the “Just Read the Instructions”droneship in the Atlantic Ocean after the successful separation. This was the 15th launch with this specific first-stage booster. Starlink missions comprised nine of the fifteen.

SpaceX Overcomes Falcon 9 Anomaly with Successful Starlink Launch, Polaris Dawn Mission

This particular Starlink launch was the third since an anomaly occurred with a Falcon 9 first stage, which collapsed on the “A Shortfall from Gravitas” droneship in late August.

Initially, the FAA suspended all Falcon 9 launches; however, SpaceX was permitted to proceed.

The launch was the initial of two scheduled for SpaceX on consecutive days.

The eagerly anticipated Polaris Dawn expedition will launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Station on September 6. The astronauts on that mission have been quarantined for days in anticipation of confirmation that they can travel to space.

The Polaris Dawn mission was scheduled to launch last week; however, the launch was postponed due to unfavorable conditions in the Atlantic Ocean.