SpaceX has completed its 60th orbital launch of the year from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, further cementing its dominance in the commercial space industry. This achievement underscores the company’s rapid growth and its ability to deploy a high volume of satellites for its Starlink broadband constellation.
Mission Details
On Tuesday, December 2nd, a Falcon 9 rocket launched at 12:28 a.m. EST (0528 GMT), carrying 27 additional Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This mission brings the total number of Starlink satellites in orbit to over 9,000, forming one of the largest broadband megaconstellations ever deployed.
The launch also marked the 20th flight for booster B1081, demonstrating SpaceX’s cost-effective and reusable rocket technology. The first stage successfully landed on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff.
Expansion and Industry Context
SpaceX’s California launches are significant, but its operations in Florida are even more frequent. The company has already conducted 94 launches from Florida’s Space Coast this year, highlighting the increasing demand for satellite-based services and SpaceX’s ability to meet that demand.
This level of launch cadence is unprecedented in the industry. SpaceX’s ability to reuse its rockets and rapidly deploy satellites is reshaping the economics of space access, making it faster and cheaper than traditional methods.
SpaceX’s aggressive launch schedule demonstrates its commitment to expanding global internet coverage and pushing the boundaries of commercial space operations.
The company’s growth raises questions about satellite crowding in low Earth orbit and the long-term sustainability of megaconstellations, but for now, SpaceX remains the leader in this rapidly evolving market.
