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After some delay, SpaceX launched its latest batch of Starlink satellites from the Vandenberg Space Force base in California earlier today. The launch came nearly a week after it launched a satellite for the European Space Agency (ESA) and two weeks after SpaceX had launched the previous Starlink batch from the opposite side of the Continental U.S. in Florida. SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation is the largest in low Earth orbit (LEO), and the Starlink missions account for most of the firm's launches in a year. The launch was also SpaceX's first for the second half of 2023, with the firm appearing to be on track to meet its goal of launching one hundred missions this year.

SpaceX Launches 48 Starlink Satellites From Vandenberg Space Force Base In California

Ever since it was opened for public use, Starlink has slowly made inroads in the U.S. and globally. The firm has customers in dozens of countries, including several areas where internet connectivity through conventional means, such as land networks, is unavailable. Starlink is the second satellite service of its kind that uses the much lower LEO to provide internet connectivity.

These regions include the African nation of Rwanda, where Starlink provides internet access to schools in partnership with a nonprofit and the government. The service is also available for use on aircraft and schools in the Amazon, taking advantage of the fact that all that is needed for Starlink to work is a user dish.

Keeping in tune with the growing usage, SpaceX is also rapidly building its constellation and launching newer, second generation spacecraft. These satellites, initially planned to be launched on the Starship rocket, have several upgrades over their predecessors, such as higher throughput and lower visibility.

The Falcon 9's first and second stage separate during today's launch. Image: SpaceX

Today's launch also maintained SpaceX's high reusability of the Falcon 9 first stage. One key reason that Starlink ahs managed to build a constellation of thousands of satellites is SpaceX's own rockets that enable multiple launches over a year. A rocket is always available for a Starlink launch, and since it is a SpaceX subsidiary, Starlink can use older rockets that have flown multiple times. The Falcon 9 rocket part of today's mission flew and landed for the 12th time. It has previously launched seen Starlink missions, satellites for SpaceX's satellite internet competitors, a ridesharing mission and a satellite for NASA.

Performance improvements to the Falcon 9, courtesy of the data that SpaceX gathers through its dozens of launches, has also allowed SpaceX to divert a greater portion of its rockets for a land landing. Landing on land saves up on costs of operating a drone ship, but previously, it had come at the cost of using more fuel to fly the Falcon 9 first stage from the point of stage separation to an area close to the launch site.

The mission was SpaceX's 45th launch for the year and carried 48 satellites to LEO. SpaceX aims to launch 100 missions this year for the first time in its history. These include potential Starship launches, and so far, the firm has launched only one Starship rocket this year. As the Starlink satellites have become more advanced, the number that SpaceX can fit in a Falcon 9 fairing has dropped. From the first Starlink launches that saw more than sixty satellites per rocket, the newer, second generation spacecraft saw this figure drop below fifty.

To compensate for this, SpaceX plans to launch the satellites through Starship. However, while SpaceX rapidly upgrades its Starship launch site, its second launch date remains unclear. Additionally, the company is also in the midst of a lawsuit filed against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accusing the agency of improperly approving SpaceX's rocket test activities in Boca Chica, Texas.