SpaceX successfully executed its final orbital mission of the year by launching 21 Starlink satellites from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission marked a significant milestone as it represented SpaceX's 134th Falcon 9 launch for the year, surpassing previous records and demonstrating the company's growing capabilities in satellite deployment . Among the satellites launched, 13 were equipped with direct-to-cell technology, indicating advancements in connectivity options that could potentially enhance global communication networks.
With SpaceX’s successful launch of the Starlink Group 12-6 mission on Tuesday, the curtain came down on a year that has seen a record 259 orbital launches from around the world. This has continued a trend over the last few years of ever-increasing numbers of launches driven by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch cadence and increased activity in China’s commercial space sector.
Alliance’s Delta IV rocket and the original version of Arianespace’s Vega, along with the maiden flights of several new rockets including Ariane 6, ULA’s next-generation Vulcan, and China’s Chang Zheng 12.
The increase in the number of orbital launches taking place worldwide has been dramatic and abrupt, with 2024’s total more than double that seen in 2019 and 2020 when the current rise began. Despite the high number of launches, only five failed to reach orbit with a sixth launch failing after reaching orbit, and two partial failures.
The following month, a failed booster landing on the droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas,’ resulted in another fleet grounding, though this was cleared by the FAA within a few days.
SpaceX was allowed to launch the Hera mission for the European Space Agency on Oct. 7 because the mission didn’t require a deorbit burn.
Looking ahead, a different SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch Space42’s Thuraya-4 geostationary telecommunications satellite early Thursday morning, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows.
That launch window for the Thuraya-4 mission extends from 12 a.m. to 2:23 a.m. from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
This launch is part of an ongoing effort to expand the Starlink constellation, which now consists of over 6,850 active satellites. The increase in satellite numbers is crucial for providing low-latency internet service across various regions worldwide . As such initiatives continue to evolve, they promise significant implications for both telecommunications and global connectivity in an increasingly digital world.
 Read more
Norovirus outbreaks surge during the holiday season, prompting health officials to advise caution Puerto Rico Faces Widespread Blackout on New Year’s EveSarah H
Also on site :