Update: This article has been updated to reflect the successful launch.
SpaceX topped its second attempt to launch 46 satellites on Friday (July 22), breaking a record along the way.
The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket, which caused a skid on T-46 according to Thursday (July 21), successfully lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday.
Liftoff took place at 1:40 pm EDT (17:40 GMT or 10:40 am local time at the launch site) amid severe foggy conditions on the west coast.
The launch allowed SpaceX to surpass its record 31 launches in 2021 with a record 32nd launch in 2022, and counting.
Related: Falcon 9: SpaceX’s workhorse rocket
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in flight during the launch of the Starlink satellites on July 22, 2022. (Image credit: SpaceX)
The Falcon 9’s first stage also completed its mission, landing atop the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship in the Pacific Ocean as planned, about 8.5 minutes after launch.
Prior to this effort, SpaceX recently launched a set of Starlinks from Vandenberg on July 11. On that occasion, another set of 46 Starlink satellites arrived in space and the rocket successfully landed on the drone.
SpaceX has launched many more Starlink batches from the US East Coast, most recently from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida on Sunday (July 17).
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 first stage makes a safe landing atop the drone. Of course, I still love you on July 22, 2022. (Image credit: SpaceX)
Starlink has more than 2,800 individual Starlink satellites (opens in a new tab) launched into orbit as the company looks to build out its satellite Internet service. Group 3-2 was SpaceX’s fourth Starlink launch in July alone.
SpaceX aims to build the constellation quickly. It has regulatory approval to send 12,000 Starlink ships into orbit. The company is also asking an international regulator to approve 30,000 satellites after that.
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