SpaceX's Falcon 9 launches new batch of Starlink satellites into orbit

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off once again, delivering a fresh batch of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.

The largest group of next-generation Starlink V2 Mini satellites was launched on May 4 morning, continuing its rapid expansion of the Starlink internet constellation, Caliber.Az reports, citing the website about space news.

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 4:54 a.m. EDT (0854 UTC) as part of the Starlink 6-84 mission. Onboard were 29 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites—lighter and more advanced versions first mentioned in SpaceX’s 2024 Progress Report.

Each satellite weighs approximately 225 kilograms less than its predecessor. The mission followed a southeast trajectory shortly after liftoff, navigating through weather that had presented moderate launch risks. The 45th Weather Squadron had forecast a 55 per cent chance of favorable conditions, citing concerns over dense cloud cover. 

“On Saturday [May 3], southerly flow will significantly increase moisture over the Florida peninsula out ahead of the approaching front,” launch weather officers wrote. “Although the boundary will not reach the area until well after the launch window, westerly winds aloft will likely bring in mid to upper-level clouds that develop along the front.”

The first-stage booster, designated B1078, had previously flown high-profile missions including NASA’s Crew-6, USSF-124, and several earlier Starlink batches. 

Roughly eight minutes after launch, it made a successful landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This marked the 107th landing for A Shortfall of Gravitas and the 441st successful booster recovery for SpaceX, underscoring the company’s continued dominance in reusable launch technology.

By Naila Huseynova