SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Record Breaking 15th Time on Starlink Mission: Photos

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Record Breaking 15th Time on Starlink Mission: Photos
Birds and spectators watch as SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida – on record breaking 15th launch for 1st stage B1058. As seen with beautiful reflection in Indian River from Space View Park, Titusville, FL with launch pad 39B and VAB and new SpaceX Starship launch tower in view. Credit: Ken Kremer/spaceupclose.com

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM

SPACE VIEW PARK/TITUSVILLE, FL – SpaceX successfully launched its fleet leading Falcon 9 for a record breaking 15th time Saturday afternoon, Dec. 17, carrying the next tranche of Starlink broadband internet satellites to orbit from Florida’s Space Coast into heavily overcast Sunshine State skies

The heavy payload of 54 Starlink satellites on the 4-37 mission blasted off on the 15x recycled Falcon 9 booster tail number B1058 – which also nailed its 15th landing on a droneship at sea eight minutes later.

30 second daylight streak between spectators on fishing pier hut: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida and quickly disappears from view, obscured by thick low cloud layer. On record breaking 15th launch for 1st stage B1058 – as seen with beautiful reflection in Indian River from Space View Park, Titusville, FL with launch pad 39B and VAB and new SpaceX Starship launch tower in view. Credit: Ken Kremer/spaceupclose.com

This booster B1058 began its life gloriously as it was used for the 30 May 2020 launch of the NASA SpaceX DEMO-2 Crew Dragon mission with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station (ISS)!

The Demo-2 flight with Bob and Doug atop B1058 marked the resumption of American human spaceflight missions on American rockets from American soil for the first time in 9 years since the foolish and forced shutdown of NASA’s  Space Shuttle program by American politicians.

Its future is TBD as SpaceX has certified the Falcon 9s for 15 flights to space and back.

SpaceX Falcon 9 lift off between spectators on fishing pier hut on Starlink 4-37 mission at 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. On record breaking 15th launch for 1st stage B1058 – as seen with beautiful reflection in Indian River from Space View Park, Titusville, FL with launch pad 41 and VAB and new SpaceX Starship launch tower in view. Credit: Ken Kremer/spaceupclose.com

The Starlink satellites will benefit everyday users on land, at sea and in airplanes, as well as play a significant role in the Ukrainian military fight against the barbaric Russian invasion and unprovoked aggression started in February this year.

SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. As seen from Space View Park, Titusville, FL. Credit: Jean Wright/spaceupclose.com

Liftoff of the veteran Falcon 9 booster B1058.15 on the Starlink 4-37 mission carrying 54 more Starlinks to orbit took place under significantly overcast cloud cover at 4:32 p.m. EDT (2132 GMT) Saturday, Dec. 17, from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, during an instantaneous launch window.

30 second daylight streak beside spectators on fishing pier hut: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida and quickly disappears from view, obscured by thick low cloud layer. On record breaking 15th launch for 1st stage B1058 – as seen with beautiful reflection in Indian River from Space View Park, Titusville, FL with launch pad 39B and VAB and new SpaceX Starship launch tower in view. Credit: Ken Kremer/spaceupclose.com

This marked the 3rd Falcon 9 liftoff in less than 36 hours and was quickly trumpeted by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk

“Congrats to SpaceX Team on 3 perfect orbital launches within 36 hours!!!”

Starlink 4-37 followed closely on the heels for NASA’s SWOT mission launched from Vandenberg and the SES O3b mPower  launched from Cape pad 40

It also counts as the 66th launch primarily dedicated to the Starlink constellation.

The 229-foot-tall (69-meter) Falcon 9 lifted off flawlessly with ignition of all 9 Merlin 1D engines performing perfectly and generating 1.7 million pounds of liftoff thrust soaring aloft on a northeasterly trajectory tracking along the US East Coast.

The rocket disappeared quickly into thick low clouds and skywards towards the obscured sun and rumbled very loudly

SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. As seen from Space View Park, Titusville, FL. Credit: Jean Wright/spaceupclose.com

Following stage separation and payload fairing jettison The Starlink satellites were deployed as planned approx. 15 minutes after liftoff.

 

 

Eight minutes later the 1st stage B1058 touched down safely upright on the “Just Read the Instructions” (JRTI) drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina.

In addition to the NASA SpaceX Demo-2 crew mission with Hurley ad Behnken, B1058 has also previously used on ANASIS-II, CRS-21 cargo resupply tithe ISS, Transporter-1, Transporter-3, and now ten Starlink missions.

Due to heavy cloud cover the fabulous Falcon 9 launch was completely obscured in less than 30 minutes.

It punched through the clouds overhead – never to be seen again.

SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. As seen from Space View Park, Titusville, FL. Credit: Ken Kremer/spaceupclose.com

 

Starlink provides high speed, low latency broadband internet connectivity now on a global basis to all 7 continents.

SpaceX states that they now have reached a major milestone with over 1 million customers.

The cost is approx. $100 per month with a hardware charge of $599.

SpaceX manufactures the Starlinks in-house in Redmond, Washington.

SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. As seen from Space View Park, Titusville, FL. Credit: Jean Wright/spaceupclose.com

The flat-paneled, solar powered refrigerator-sized satellites were deployed into an elliptical orbit at an inclination of 53.2 degrees to the equator.

The Starlink satellites will use on-board krypton ion propulsion to raise themselves to their final operating circular orbit some 335 miles (540 kilometers) above Earth.

To date SpaceX has launched 3612 Starlink satellites including prototype and test versions and failed ones, according to a tabulation from astronomer Jonathan McDowell, at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Currently SpaceX has more than 3,284 functioning Starlink satellites in space, with about 3,019 operational.

SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. As seen from Space View Park, Titusville, FL. Credit: Ken Kremer/spaceupclose.com

SpaceX has FAA approval to deploy 7,000 Starlinks and eventually hope to deploy well over 30,000

However the impact on Earth-based astronomy and science could be quite negative

Following a string of commercial, government and science missions this was the 1st Starlink launch from the Cape since Oct. 20, on the 4-36 mission.

This launch marked the 59th by SpaceX in 2022 – nearly at their goal of 60+.

Up to two more Falcon 9 launches are planned by years end.

SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. As seen from Space View Park, Titusville, FL. Credit: Jean Wright/spaceupclose.com

 

Watch Ken’s commentary about Project Artemis, SpaceX Falcon Heavy, Crew-5,  NASA SLS cryo and WDR tests, NASA SpaceX Crew & Cargo Dragons and more

Dec 11/12: BBC World News TV interview about  successful splashdown of NASA Orion concluding the 25 day Artemis 1 lunar test flight around the Moon and back, and how that sets up a human return to the Moon on Artemis 2 and landing on Artemis 3. Plus what’s beyond for NASA deep space exploration to Mars and the search for life beyond Earth

https://youtu.be/Qw4NPkgZ7HE

Nov 22:  WFTV ABC News Orlando interview about upcoming NASA SpaceX CRS 26 cargo resupply mission to the ISS and science aboard + Artemis 1 launch and Orion crew capsule successfully entering lunar orbit, results and mission goals

https://www.wftv.com/news/video-unfavorable-weather-postpones-first-2-planned-launches-tuesday/f6b46562-3d2d-430f-949b-c0bafc71fd33/

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/brevard-county/spacex-set-2-rocket-launches-tuesday-floridas-space-coast/BPUZHFLEMBA4PFCGNGJ2DQAFRE/

Nov 22:  Fox 35 interview about upcoming NASA SpaceX CRS 26 cargo resupply mission to the ISS and science aboard + Artemis 1 launch and Orion crew capsule successfully entering lunar orbit, results and mission goals

Nov 21/22:  BBC World TV interview about Orion crew capsule successfully entering lunar orbit, results and mission goals

https://youtu.be/pre2gUmz3so

Watch Ken’s continuing reports about Artemis, SpaceX missions, SLS, Orion and NASA missions, SpaceX Crew and Cargo Dragons, SpaceX Axiom, JWST, DART, Lucy Asteroid mission, GOES, SpaceX Starlink, Commercial Crew and Starliner and Crew Dragon, Blue Origin and Space Tourism, and onsite for live reporting of upcoming and recent SpaceX and ULA launches including Crew 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5, ISS, Solar Orbiter, Mars 2020 Perseverance and Curiosity rovers, NRO spysats and national security missions and more at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Stay tuned here for Ken’s continuing Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news: www.spaceupclose.com – twitter @ken_kremer – email: ken at kenkremer.com

Dr. Kremer is a research scientist and journalist based in the KSC area, active in outreach and interviewed regularly on TV and radio about space topics.
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Upcoming and recent space events and talks by Ken Kremer & Jean Wright

Nov 29 at UCF, Orlando Florida: Presentation by Jean Wright – “Sew Sister to the Stars- How the Humble Art of Sewing Transformed the World of Flight”

Upcoming and recent space events and talks by Ken Kremer & Jean Wright

Dec 7/10/15 and Nov 25/29 from 7 to 9 PM Quality Inn, Titusville, FL:  Join Ken and Jean for Artemis 1, Falcon Heavy and space mission and rocket launch outreach. Ask us anything. plus display our photos and space apparel items for sale

Prelaunch view. SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/spaceupclose.com

 

30 second daylight streak beside spectators on fishing pier hut: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida and quickly disappears from view, obscured by thick low cloud layer. On record breaking 15th launch for 1st stage B1058 – as seen with beautiful reflection in Indian River from Space View Park, Titusville, FL with launch pad 39B and VAB and new SpaceX Starship launch tower in view. Credit: Ken Kremer/spaceupclose.com

 

SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. As seen from Space View Park, Titusville, FL. Credit: Jean Wright/spaceupclose.com

 

30 second daylight streak between spectators on fishing pier hut: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida and quickly disappears from view, obscured by thick low cloud layer. On record breaking 15th launch for 1st stage B1058 – as seen with beautiful reflection in Indian River from Space View Park, Titusville, FL with launch pad 39B and VAB and new SpaceX Starship launch tower in view. Credit: Ken Kremer/spaceupclose.com

 

SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 4-37 mission lifts off 4:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2022 delivering another 54 Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. As seen from Space View Park, Titusville, FL. Credit: Jean Wright/spaceupclose.com

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Ken Kremer

Watch for Ken’s continuing onsite coverage of NASA, SpaceX, ULA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and more space and mission reports direct from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Stay tuned here for Ken's continuing Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news. Dr. Kremer is a research scientist and journalist based in the KSC area, active in outreach and interviewed regularly on TV and radio about space topics. Ken’s photos are for sale and he is available for lectures and outreach events.

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