SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites into orbit on Sunday night, September 3, 2023, setting a new record for the most orbital launches in a single year. The mission, which took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, was SpaceX's 62nd launch of the year, surpassing the company's previous record of 61 launches set in 2022.
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The Falcon 9 rocket that carried the Starlink satellites was also notable for its reuse. The first stage of the rocket had previously flown on nine other missions, making it the 10th time that SpaceX has reused a first stage booster.
The Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX's ambitious plan to launch a constellation of thousands of satellites to provide high-speed internet access to people around the world. The company has already launched over 5,000 Starlink satellites, and it plans to launch many more in the coming years.
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SpaceX's record-breaking launch is a testament to the company's rapid growth and innovation. The company is now the world's leading launch provider, and it is playing a major role in the development of the commercial space industry.
In a statement, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that the company is "committed to making space accessible to everyone." He added that SpaceX is "on track to launch over 1,000 Starlink satellites this year," and that the company is "working hard to make Starlink available to even more people around the world."
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The launch of the Starlink satellites was a major milestone for SpaceX, and it is a sign of the company's continued dominance in the launch market. SpaceX is now well-positioned to continue its rapid growth and innovation in the years to come.