SpaceX achieves a historic launch with 116 payloads from 9 different companies. Discover the details of this Transporter 11 mission and its impact on the space industry.
SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Muskhas reached a new milestone in the history of commercial spaceflight with the launch of its Transporter 11 mission.
This impressive feat, which took place Friday morning from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carried a total of 116 payloads belonging to nine different companies.
He Falcon 9, SpaceX’s flagship reusable rocket, was responsible for transport this record load. Among the most notable satellites are:
- He satélite Arctic Weather from the European Space Agency (ESA), designed to improve weather predictions in the Arctic region.
- He satellite Tyche from the British company Surrey Satellites, which promises advances in Earth observation.
- He QPS-SAR No. 8 satellite from the Japanese company iQPS, focused on synthetic aperture radar technology.
- He Tanager-1 satellite from Planet Labs, a leading American company in high-resolution satellite images.
It is important to highlight that More than 70% of the satellites on board are destined for the Starlink communications networkSpaceX’s ambitious project to provide high-speed internet globally.
SpaceX continues to break records of success and efficiency
This launch marks SpaceX’s 80th so far this year.demonstrating the accelerated pace and efficiency the company has achieved in its space operations. The frequency and magnitude of these launches are redefining the commercial space industry, making access to space more affordable and frequent, although not infallible.
As SpaceX continues to break records, at NASA faces challenges with its crew capsule program. The US space agency is considering keeping two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, on the International Space Station until early next year due to problems with Boeing’s Starliner capsule.
Thruster failures and helium leaks during the voyage of the starliner to the space station have raised questions about its ability to return safely to Earth. Alternatively, NASA is evaluating the possibility of astronauts return on the next SpaceX missionwhich would extend its stay in space until February 2024.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s chief of space operations, said: “We have time on our hands before we bring Starliner home and we want to use that time wisely.” NASA is analyzing more data before making a final decisionwhich is expected at the end of next week or the beginning of the next.
