Starlink 27 (Falcon 9) 9 May 2021 |
Space Launch Complex 40 Cape Canaveral Space Force Station |
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 60 Starlink satellites into orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 2:42 a.m. on 9 May 2021. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship located in the Atlantic Ocean. This is the tenth flight of the Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew Dragon’s first demonstration mission to the International Space Station, the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, SXM-7, and six Starlink missions. Both of Falcon 9’s fairing halves previously flew on the GPS III Space Vehicle 04 mission. Starlink 27 launched before Starlink 26 due to technical reasons. The Starlink satellites will eventually form a constellation around the Earth providing global satellite-based internet access. |
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TIME EXPOSURE |
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Time exposure of the launch. Note the orange streak of the first stage entry burn just to the right of the sailboat at left. |
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TELEPHOTO IMAGES |
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Time exposure of the second stage revealing its exhaust plume. |
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