SpaceX will break its own record for the most rocket launches in a year with the next Starlink launch

Rocket company SpaceX is set to break its own record for most rocket launches in a calendar year this week.

Elon Musk’s company had 31 successful launches in 2021 and already broke that record this year with its latest launch last Sunday.

The Falcon 9 rocket is due to deliver another batch of Starlink broadband satellites to low Earth orbit on Thursday, marking its 32nd launch this year.

If SpaceX continues like this, it could complete more than 50 launches this year, as it currently averages more than one launch per week.

According to NextSpaceFlight.com, the Falcon 9’s record-breaking launch will take place on July 21 at 6:13 pm BST (1:13 pm EDT) and will be streamed live on the SpaceX YouTube channel.

Elon Musk’s company had 31 successful launches in 2021 and broke that record last Sunday. Earlier this month, he marked the 100th time he flew the Falcon 9 again.

SpaceX is set to break the record for most rocket launches in a calendar year on Thursday.

WHAT ARE STARLINK SATELLITES?

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched more than 2,000 of its Starlink Internet space satellites into orbit and hopes to have 12,000 such satellites in the sky by 2026.

They form a constellation designed to provide low-cost broadband Internet access from low Earth orbit.

While satellite internet has been around for a while, it suffers from high latency and unreliable connections.

Starlink is different. SpaceX has stated that its goal is to provide high-speed cable internet around the world.

Musk has previously said the venture could give the 3 billion people who currently don’t have internet access a cheap way to get online.

It could also help fund a future city on Mars.

The latest launch took place on July 17: a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, with 53 Starlink satellites on board.

Just nine minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth, using two brakes to slow it down.

He then landed on an unmanned craft called Just Read the Instructions, which was in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida.

BUT tweet SpaceX reported that 53 Starlink flat broadband relay stations were deployed from the Falcon 9 upper stage just 15.5 minutes after liftoff.

In the mission description, SpaceX said, “This was the 13th flight of the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched the first Dragon crew demonstration mission, the RADARSAT Constellation mission, SXM-7, and now 10 Starlink missions.”

To date, SpaceX has launched more than 2,800 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit and has clearance for another 9,000.

The Starlink network has over 400,000 subscribers worldwide and currently costs $110 per month with a one-time hardware fee of $599.

The spacecraft development company has requested permission to launch another 30,000 satellites to create a “mega constellation”.

But NASA said placing so many satellites in low Earth orbit could “affect science and human spaceflight.”

He also warned that the move could lead to a “significant increase” in clashes.

The ability to reuse the first stage of their rockets helps SpaceX lower launch costs and makes them competitive with older companies.

The Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket that has proven to be effective and safe in delivering people and payloads to Earth orbit and beyond.

On July 7, he made the 100th Falcon 9 re-launch.

The rocket’s nine Merlin thrusters release 1.7 million pounds of thrust on takeoff, helping the ship navigate to its destination in space.

The ability to reuse the first stage of its Falcon 9 rockets helps SpaceX lower launch costs and makes it very competitive with older companies.

This is also part of Musk’s plan to colonize Mars – once SpaceX can get the hang of rocket reuse, it can start sending multiple rockets to Mars and back to Earth.

Musk plans to use massive Starship rockets to get people to and from the Red Planet.

SpaceX announced Wednesday that Starship 24, or Ship 24, is now standing on a sub-orbital launch pad at its test site in Boca, China, Texas.

The move is “preparation for Starship’s first orbital flight test,” SpaceX shared in a tweet, suggesting the huge rocket could take off this month.

SpaceX announced Wednesday that Starship 24 is now on a suborbital launch pad at its test site in Boca, China, Texas. The move is “preparation for Starship’s first orbital flight test,” SpaceX shared in a tweet, suggesting the huge rocket could take off this month.

Elon Musk’s Starlink offers internet for yachts and other huge ships for $5,000 a month.

SpaceX is expanding its Starlink internet service to oceans, rivers and lakes – at a hefty cost.

Starlink Maritime is now available and the company is targeting superyacht owners, oil rigs and merchant ships as potential customers.

The service includes a $10,000 upfront hardware payment for two Starlink “protected” dishes, and recurring costs of $5,000 per month.

In comparison, Space Internet costs $110 per month with a one-time hardware fee of $599 for residential customers; it’s also available for businesses and RVs.