Updated 7:32 p.m. EDT: SpaceX has confirmed the deployment of all 23 Starlink satellites.
SpaceX completed the Falcon 9 launch, marking the company’s 300th booster landing to date. The Starlink 6-53 mission also marked the 30th orbital launch from Florida in 2024.
Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Station took place at 6:17 p.m. EDT (22:17 UTC). The 45th Weather Squadron predicted a greater than 95 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for takeoff.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, tail number B1078, made its ninth launch on this flight. She previously launched NASA’s Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station, USSF-124 and five Starlink flights.
About eight and a half minutes after takeoff, B1078 landed on the SpaceX drone, “Just Read the Instructions.” In addition to being the 300th Falcon booster landing overall, it was the 79th JRTI landing and the 233rd drone landing to date.
The 23 Starlink satellites aboard this mission are in addition to the 5,851 currently in orbit, according to astronomer and orbital tracking expert Jonathan McDowell. Prior to this mission, 610 Starlink satellites were launched into low Earth orbit in 2024 during 27 missions. The separation of the satellites should take place one hour and five minutes after the start of the flight.
The Falcon 9 first stage landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone, completing the Falcon’s 300th landing! pic.twitter.com/1YHqiHWjkN
– SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 23, 2024
